Cheteshwar Pujara Has Named R Ashwin as the perfect candidate to replace Gautam Gambhir as head coach. The veteran spinner has retired from international cricket and now plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

During a Q&A & session of ESPNCricinfo, Pujara was asked to pick a cricketer who can coach India in the future.

He took Ravichandran Ashwin’s name. Ashwin is renowned for his smartness on the field. Virat Kohli once called him a scientist. He represented India in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is for India, taking 765 wickets across formats. He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker behind Anil Kumble.

Ashwin doesn’t like the tag of over-thinker. “I am not an overthinker. Nobody has the right to do that. People have said that I am not the first choice when India play abroad,” he told the Indian Express earlier.

“I don’t have a problem if my name is not first on the team sheet. I don’t have time to throw punches and show regret,” he added.

Ashwin took just seven wickets from nine matches in IPL 2025. He is likely to be released by the franchise. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir is the current coach of the Indian team.