Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin join forces to make it an important day for cricket in Tamil Nadu | Cricket News

Washington Sundar and R. Ashwin (TOI photo)

Chennai: October 24, 2024 will undoubtedly go down in history as a great day Tamil Nadu cricket History as two 'sons of the soil' joined forces to take all 10 wickets for India in one Test innings.
On the opening day of the second match in Pune on Thursday, the returning Washington Sundar ran through New Zealand middle and lower order with a personal best of seven wickets after fellow off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin moved out of the top three.
Washington and Ashwin's masterclass effectively turned it into a mini-competition between TN and New Zealand, with the finger spinners from the southern region of the country emerging comfortably victorious. The Brothers of Destruction brought huge cheers to everyone associated with cricket in TN, a state that has produced excellent slow bowlers in the past.
“It was fantastic to see two off-spinners from TN combine to take all 10 wickets in one innings. Washington was an element of surprise; Nobody would have expected him to pick up seven wickets. It's a great thing for him and also for TN cricket. As for Ashwin, he has done well throughout and is expected to be among the wickets.” M Venkataramanaformer Indian off-break bowler and TN head coach told TOI.
With swelling pride in his voice, M Senthilnathan, a former TN player who coaches MRF Globe Trotters SC – said TNCA The first division team Washington plays for said: “Washington can be a deadly weapon when the ball is turning. Washington and Ashwin showed in this Test that they can play together. The TN boys did it together (10 wickets). They kicked New Zealand out.”

Can Washington succeed Ashwin?

While Ashwin is at the end of his illustrious career, the selectors and management are busy finding a capable successor to the maestro. Washington fits the bill and made a strong case in its Test comeback.
Asked if Washington can be an equal replacement for Ashwin after he hangs up his boots, Venkataramana said: “So far he has proven himself in white-ball cricket. In the international Red ball cricketIt's the first time he's performed so well with the ball. He must continue to improve. He has to work harder to bowl well on good batting tracks. If he can do that, he will do very well in the future. His previous experience in the Indian team will be helpful.”
Senthilnathan said Washington has the wherewithal to mount a spin-heavy attack. “He will be a star player for India in the coming years. Ashwin did very well. There is an option to play both. If Ashwin continues to play like this, why don't they have both of them in the starting XI? If we can play two left-arm spinners in the XI, why can’t we have two right-arm off-spinners in the team?”