Harbhajan Singh openly announces Ravichandran Ashwin's successor in Team India

Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement after the Gabba Test against Australia has taken the cricketing world by a huge surprise. Being one of the most high-profile Test cricketers in India in the last few years, Ashwin has left a proud legacy that will be difficult to repeat.

Legendary India offspinner Harbhajan Singh has broken his silence and predicted the reason behind the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin. Harbhajan also named Washington Sundar as the bowler who can replace Ashwin in Test cricket.

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Harbhajan Singh surprised at Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement

While speaking to RevSportz, Harbhajan Singh expressed his surprise and claimed that Ravichandran Ashwin should have played the entire series. At the same time, he respects Ashwin's thought process and congratulates him on his great career.

"I was definitely surprised by this call. He should have played the entire series before taking the call. But everyone has his own way of thinking and he has made this decision after a lot of thinking," Harbhajan said.

"It has been a phenomenal career over the years. He has done really well for India. He has won a lots of matches and series and he has taken the legacy of India's spin bowling forward. I wish him all the very best. Well done for a great career," he added.

Harbhajan Singh predicts the reason behind Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement

Harbhajan further predicted the reason behind Ashwin's decision. According to him, India's reluctance to play Ashwin in the first XI of overseas Tests might have been the reason behind his retirement. Harbhajan also mentioned that India will not play a home Test till October next year, which made Ashwin consider retirement.

"The decision of retirement hasn't been taken in just one day. It is a decision that might have been going on in his mind for several days. Another reason for his retirement might be that when you achieve so much and pick up so many wickets, you want to be part of the Playing XI in overseas Tests as well," the former India cricketer explained.

"But Ashwin hasn't been part of many tours in which he hasn't found a place in the starting XI. I don't even remember a series where Ashwin has played a whole series overseas without getting dropped. That might have been in his mind that India's next Test series at home is in October 2025," he claimed.

"There is an England tour in June but Washington Sundar has done well recently in Tests. There has been a transition that Washington Sundar played in the first Test and Ashwin might have thought that the team management is more inclined towards Sundar now," Harbhajan added.

EXCLUSIVE 🚨

"Bit surprised. He should have played the entire series before taking the call" - @harbhajan_singh on @ashwinravi99's retirement.

Speaks exclusively to @CricSubhayan.@ThumsUpOfficial @BCCI #AUSvIND #ravichandranashwin #ashwinretirement #AshwinRavichandran pic.twitter.com/rmeJLhWNFY

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 18, 2024

Who will replace Ravichandran Ashwin?

When asked about the big question, Harbhajan Singh picked Washington Sundar to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in Test cricket going forward. He feels that India won't find it very difficult to fill these big shoes because of the immense talent in the country.

"Whenever a big player leaves, it always seems like a big hole to fill. India has produced many great cricketers and I feel that this will go on as well because there is a lot of talent in the country," Harbhajan Singh reckoned.

"This is a transition phase. We will find someone and I hope that Washington Sundar will be able to make the most of his chances now," he exclaimed.

Washington Sundar was highly impressive during India's home Test series against New Zealand where he picked up 16 wickets in two Tests at an average of 14.12. He was the highest wicket-taker in the series and the lone shining light in a rather disappointing series for India.

While Ashwin has retired, his bowling partner Ravindra Jadeja is still playing and has a big role to play in this transition. Jadeja is a quality allrounder and has the experience to carry India out of this transitional period.