Can Washington Sundar from GT play the role of Ashwin for CSK?

CSK will have an additional crore of 9.75 INR after the IPL Ashwin retirement. Washington Sundar is only worth 3.20 INR, and even if they have to pay GT double, they will have enough for the IPL 2026 auction.
Ravichandran Ashwin was not at its best in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. It was the first time since 2010 that the guestrier has not played more than 10 games in one season. Ashwin has increased to 9.12 points by revenge, its worst economy since its beginnings in 2009. The Homecoming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) did not go as planned for the veteran spinner or the franchise.
CSK search for the replacement of Ashwin
Ashwin or CSK could have separated each other from separating after this sinking of a season. But the 38 -year -old man facilitated his life for the 5 champions by announcing his retirement from IPL. However, CSK still has to find a worthy replacement for him.
This Grand Prix of 9.75 INR Brokes attached to Ashwin will be useful now. This will not increase their handbag before the IPL 2026 auction. But CSK could have a chance to obtain a replacement earlier. Since the commercial window remains open, it can find someone to fill the Ashwin shoes.
Among the Indians, there are not many options. The best could be replacing the Ashwin India team. Even before the test leave of the test cricket, Washington Sundar was considered his successor. This New Zealand series validated opinion, and the tour in England proved it. And it could turn out that he is the right man for CSK to replace Ashwin.
Washington Sundar’s GT Underastilization
The first question would be: Will the Titans of Gujarat (GT) be ready to let Sundar go? The answer could be yes. The 2022 champions have put the versatile in only 3.20 INR. Maybe it was the best purchase of a team. But GT did not use Sundar. He did not even play half of the matches in IPL 2025.
Washington Sundar statistics in IPL 2025
Sleeve: 5
Shopping: 133
Strike rate: 166.25
Counters: 2
Economy: 10.24
Sundar played only 11.5 Overs. Shubman Gill and Ashish Nehra clearly preferred Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore on him. It was despite that Rashid has a worst economy than Sundar. Its stick was also underused. GT had a very fragile average order, but even then, Sundar was not played. He showed massive improvements in the strike. Its strike rate reached 166.25. For the content, his career record, despite this last season, is 126.17.
Why may trade be better than auction
At this point, Sundar would not want to stay in GT. Now he can ask to be released. Someone of its quality can recover large figures during the 2026 IPL auction. But something similar could happen again. The last time Sundar played more than 10 games in an IPL season was in 2020.
What if it is bought by a team that bench it again? Like what GT and Sunrisers Hyderabad did to him. In that a job could be the best option. He can determine the terms in this way and even the amount of money he obtains.
What Sundar gives CSK
Back to Ashwin. 9 of his 31 Overs came in the power game. Now Sundar has burst into the stage as a PowerPlay specialist. He did it for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and for Team India also. Ashwin was also not considered a counter; CSK used a defensive option. Sundar can also play this role. His Modus Operandi has always played bowling on the stumps.
Although the pitch of the my Chidambaram stadium was not the usual rotation, it has always helped spinners. And we can expect the same old nature. Raviund Jadeja and Noor Ahmad combined Rake in 26 inr. If even after that, the terrain is not suitable for a spin, CSK does something wrong.
This is why Sundar’s inclusion makes sense. The field will run and it can play in the first 15 Overs. Something neither Jadeja nor Noor cannot do. Now we come to the shot. Ashwin was used at the four, six and eight numbers last season, while Sundar beat only four. But this gives CSK the type of flexibility they need. It can be used as a float and enter if and if necessary.
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