Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has singled out young all-rounder Harsh Dubey as the player he is most excited to watch in India’s upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. With several fresh faces in contention and an opportunity to impress on the international stage, Ashwin believes Dubey could be one of the standout stories of the match if he gets the chance to make his debut.

India will take on Afghanistan in New Chandigarh starting Saturday in a fixture expected to provide valuable exposure for a number of emerging players. The absence of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has opened the door for young spin-bowling all-rounders Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar, both of whom have built strong reputations through their domestic performances. Speaking on JioStar, Ashwin highlighted the importance of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar in India’s spin department.

According to the former off-spinner, Kuldeep has developed into a complete match-winner and will be crucial in leading the attack. “Kuldeep Yadav will lead the spin attack against Afghanistan in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja. He has been bowling with great rhythm and confidence. His ability to turn the ball both ways and his experience in home conditions make him a huge threat.”

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Ashwin also backed Washington Sundar to play a key supporting role. “Washington Sundar will play the supporting role. He is more of a defensive, containing bowler who can also bat lower down the order. His accuracy and ability to bowl long spells will be useful on a wearing track.”

While acknowledging the importance of the senior spinners, Ashwin admitted that his primary focus will be on Dubey, whose performances over the last year have caught the attention of cricket followers across the country.

“However, my eyes will be on Harsh Dubey. I am curious whether he will get a chance. We will have to wait and see if the team goes with Manav Suthar or Harsh Dubey. But I am particularly interested in Dubey because of his strong domestic season. He also had a very good IPL season. Those performances work in his favour. I am looking forward to seeing him make his debut.”

Dubey heads into the Afghanistan Test with an impressive first-class record that includes 133 wickets and more than 1,000 runs, highlighting his value as a genuine all-rounder. Suthar, meanwhile, has also established himself as one of India’s most promising domestic performers.

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With experienced campaigners and emerging talents sharing the dressing room, the Afghanistan Test could offer an important glimpse into the future of India’s red-ball setup, and Harsh Dubey may be one of the names to watch most closely.