Last updated:November 30, 2024, 11:05 PM IST

Ashwin’s age is certainly a factor being taken into account, with young Washington suddenly being named as India’s first-choice off-break bowler in the Gautam Gambhir era.

Washington Sundar with R Ashwin (X)

No one can take away Ravichandran Ashwin’s “phenomenal performances”, but the Indian team management is preparing Washington Sundar for the near future when the former calls for time, feels another spin maestro Harbhajan Singh.

Ashwin, who with 536 wickets is second only to Anil Kumble’s 619 Test scalps for India. But the next 84 victims may take time with young Washington suddenly becoming India’s first-choice off-break bowler in the Gautam Gambhir era.

“I think that is what their (team management and selectors’) long-term plan is. Ravichandran Ashwin has done a phenomenal job playing for India by taking all these wickets in his career,” Harbhajan told PTI in an exclusive interview when was asked if he sees Ashwin’s younger Tamil Nadu statesman taking over the mantle of lead spinner.

Ashwin’s age is certainly a factor that is taken into consideration.

“But now that he’s at that stage, at the age of 38, so that’s why they’ve kept Washington Sundar with them (for) whenever R Ashwin will retire. The team thinks they have to prepare Washington, so I think they work on the same path,” the former off-spinner with 400-plus Tests and 700-plus international wickets across formats.

Harbhajan was speaking during the launch of a book titled “The Extraordinary Life of Kiran Dembla”, authored by filmmaker Dr Deepak Singh.

Harbhajan, who did not play the 2008 WACA Test, 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.

“Beating them in their backyard is always very difficult, but this is a ground where the luck to win is doubled because they (Australia) consider themselves (to be) very strong in this arena.”

“So well done by 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 despite winning the first Test, another Test in the series will put India on the path to the World Test Championship final, but added that just getting there would not be enough.

“If they win one more game I think India will definitely go into the WTC (final) but it’s not important to get there, it’s important to win we will get there,” he said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)