Twitterati say it's a case of 'sour grapes' after former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh suggests that he and Anil Kumble would have claimed more wickets if the pitches had been as easy as they are now
Harbhajan Singh is upset about quality of pitches on offer in India nowadays. File Pic/AFP
Harbhajan Singh is not happy. But his displeasure has not got him sympathy, instead Twitterati are extremely upset with him.
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The former India off-spinner took to Twitter on Day one of the Indore Test between India nad New Zealand to comment about how it already looked 'two days old'. He also predicted that the 3rd and final Test in the series wouldn't last for more than three-and-a-half days.
Ahead of the Test series, 'The Turbanator' in an interview had expressed the same opinion. Harbhajan had called against using rank turners in the home Test series. With India starting their long home season of 13 Tests with a three-match series against New Zealand, the 'Turbanator' opined that designer pitches could backfire on the team. He had said that winning winning matches in three days left thebatsmen being short-changed and the spinners unable to get a proper assessment of their skills.
He had expressed the hope that captain Virat Kohli and chief coach Kumble would usher in a new era where Indian cricket teams would not require "rank turners" to win matches as the long-used tactic is beginning to boomerang on the side.
"Over past four-five years, the previous team managements preferred pitches where Test matches would end inside three days. But I believe both Anil bhai and Virat are positive people, who would like play on good Test pitches, where the results are decided on fourth evening or by fifth day post lunch session," Harbhajan told PTI in the interaction.
"We should look at the bigger picture. Are we gaining anything by winning inside two and half to three days? Are we also being fair to our batsmen who struggled against South African spinners during last home series?" India's third highest wicket-taker asked some serious questions.
"Why do we call it Test cricket? Because it tests your skill from Day 1 to Day 5 at every level. It should give everyone a fair chance to succeed at that level.
"Save the last Test match at Kotla, where Ajinkya (Rahane) batted exceptionally and Virat got runs, our batsmen also suffered. I can tell you if we go for rank turners, it can boomerang on us like World T20 in Nagpur. Mitch Santner and Ish Sodhi could prove to be a handful.
"But if we can produce sporting pitch where our batsmen can score 400 runs if batting first, New Zealand can't beat us. Man to man, we are a better unit. Even if we prepare sporting tracks, we can win 3-0," the 36 year Harbhajan stated.
For Harbhajan, rank turners is of no good use to Indian spinners also.
"Fine you can get wickets but there are times when the bowler doesn't even know that where the ball will land and which direction it goes. You don't know which one would turn and which one would jump. That's why I am stressing on good pitches where skill comes into play," said the owner of 700 plus international wickets across three formats.
Well, the tweets backfired on the spinner.
Twitterati didn't appreciate Bhajji's comments and questioned him over the fact that he had also claimed many of his wickets on such rank turners.
Incidentally, Ashwin recently broke Harbhajan's record of being the fastest Indian to reach 200 Test wickets by completing achieving the landmark in 37 games, nine matches faster than Bhajji.
HERE'S BHAJJI'S PREDICTION
Already looks like 2 days old pitch before the 1st bowl is bowled..my predictions match won't go more then 3 and half days.. https://t.co/obn4qVRnP6
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 8, 2016
One fan took exception to the post and pointed out two instances when Bhajji had taken a fifer against Australia in Mumbai in 2004 and then a total of seven South African scalps in Kanpur in 2008.
@harbhajan_singh U didnt complain during
— Ankit Sharma (@Ankit_sharma03) October 9, 2016
Ind vs sa, Kanpur, 2008
Ind vs Aus, Mumbai 2004
Harbhajan decided to respond. But his response fueled the controversy. The offie commented that he and Anil Kumble would have taken more wickets had he had pitches that Team India has been playing on in the last four years.
Only 2 in my 103 tests.. Kumble and my test wicket count would have been something else if we got wickets like last 4 years we playing onðu00c2u009fu00c2u0091u00c2u008a https://t.co/fvkdVw1I1v
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 9, 2016
HERE'S WHAT TWITTERATI HAD TO SAY:
@harbhajan_singh bhai don't be @ArvindKejriwal of cricket plz ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008fðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008f aap apni respect kum kar rahe ho ese betuke argument no complaint kar k
— Suraj Patel (@SURAJ19888) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh lol shut up! first tell why didn't you play in nagpur test vs AUS ?
— tinu anand (@ElCrankoPunko) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh @Ankit_sharma03 This guy is a real losser..Once upon a time i had respect and loved his spirit but not anymore
— CAPTAINSPEAKS (@captainspeaks) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh bhajji bhai, kumble hs nvr complained, u see the diff? Also y do u think u r nt in d team? @Ankit_sharma03
— Rohit Saksena (@saksenarohit259) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh don't tell us you haven't got your chances in the last 4 years?
— Hitman Cricket (@HitmanCricket) October 9, 2016
@harbhajan_singh @Ankit_sharma03 indian pitches have always been tailor made for spin bowling. Most of your 5 wkts haul has been on d4 d5
— nikesh (@nayanku) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh bhai don't be @ArvindKejriwal of cricket plz ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008fðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008f aap apni respect kum kar rahe ho ese betuke argument no complaint kar k
— Suraj Patel (@SURAJ19888) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh Shared SS of four innings where you & Ash bowled together. Be like a man and reply for this. #SoreLoser pic.twitter.com/Vurwnsq1iW
— Denzil martin (@denzilmartin05) October 10, 2016
@harbhajan_singh Bhajji, suck it up like a man and move on buddy. You have over 400 tests scalps. Show some class.
— Shivang Swaroop (@shivangswaroop) October 9, 2016
.@harbhajan_singh Sir taste karke batana yeh khatte hain ya meethe ? pic.twitter.com/a1Yz76Ubam
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) October 10, 2016
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