NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin‘s “phenomenal achievements” remain unmatched, yet the Indian cricket team’s leadership is grooming Washington Sundar as his potential successor, according to spin maestro Harbhajan Singh.
While Ashwin stands second only to Anil Kumble in India’s Test wicket-taking list with 536 dismissals compared to Kumble’s 619, the path to claiming the next 84 wickets might be prolonged. This comes as Sundar emerges as India’s preferred off-spinner during Gautam Gambhir‘s tenure.
“I think that’s what their (team management and selectors’) long term plan is. Ravichandran Ashwin has done a phenomenal job playing for India in taking all those wickets in his career,” Harbhajan told PTI in an exclusive interview when asked if he sees Ashwin’s younger Tamil Nadu statemate taking over the mantle of lead spinner.

Ashwin’s age is certainly being taken into consideration.
“But now that he is at that stage, at the age of 38, so that’s why they have kept Washington Sundar with them (for) whenever R Ashwin will retire. The team thinks that they have to prepare Washington, so I think they are working on the same path,” the former off-spinner with 400 plus Test and 700 plus international wickets across formats aid.
Harbhajan, who missed the WACA Test in 2008, said the win in the series opener at Optus Stadium “doubled the joy.”
“It was (the) most important win for India because Perth has always been a very happy hunting ground for Australia,” he said.
“To beat them in their backyard is always very difficult, but this is a ground where the happiness of winning doubles because here they (Australia) consider themselves (to be) very strong at this venue.”

“So, well done to team India, they played phenomenal cricket and I hope this will continue and India (would) go on to win this series 4-1,” he added.
Harbhajan said that while winning the first Test was significant, another win in the series would put India on the path to the World Test Championship final. However, he emphasized that simply reaching the final would not be enough.
“If they win another game, I think India will definitely go into the WTC (final) but it’s not important to reach there, it’s important to win we will reach there,” he said.
Harbhajan praised India’s stand-in captain for the Perth Test, Jasprit Bumrah, stating that he commands a great deal of respect in the dressing room for the person he is.
“Bumrah is an amazing player, and of course, he has got a great mindset. I have been a huge supporter of Bumrah from Day One and he has got that very calm kind of personality,” he said.
“He knows his game and he is one of those guys who is a very likeable person in the dressing room. He commands a lot of respect in the dressing room so when such a person leads you from the front, the team obviously follows,” he added.
The former India player mentioned that while Bumrah led from the front, he specifically highlighted KL Rahul for his solid batting performance in the first Test at Perth, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, for India’s triumph.
“To give credit, Jassi did a great job but along with that, Jaiswal (too),” he said.
“KL Rahul… we talk so much about him, that KL is not making runs, this is not happening for him or that is not happening but in the end, you see, if you give a (long) run to a player – he is a quality player, KL Rahul – and I am so happy for him.”
Harbhajan hoped India will continue their momentum from Perth as they prepare for the next assignment in a day-night Test at Adelaide.
“Now Rohit (Sharma) and Shubman (Gill) will be back so the team will become even stronger. It’s so good to see Team India the way they have played and I hope they will continue the way they have been playing and go on to win a series there,” he added.