"At The Age Of 38...": On R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh 's Grim 'Long Term Plan' Warning

No one can take away the "phenomenal achievements" of Ravichandran Ashwin but the Indian team management is preparing Washington Sundar for near future when the former calls time, feels another spin maestro Harbhajan Singh. Ashwin, who with 536 wickets is second to Anil Kumble's 619 Test scalps for India but the next 84 victims could take time with young Washington suddenly becoming India's first-choice off-break bowler in the Gautam Gambhir era. “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 state mate taking over the mantle of lead spinner.

Ashwin's age is certainly a factor that is being kept in 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 spoke during the launch of a book titled “The Extraordinary Life of Kiran Dembla”, authored by filmmaker Dr Deepak Singh.

Harbhajan, who didn't play the WACA Test in 2008, said the win in the series opener at the 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