Farokh Engineer Criticises Harbhajan Singh For His Comments On Ravichandran Ashwin

The veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh isn’t impressed with Ravichandran Ashwin whatsoever. He criticised Ashwin for his fitness, which is pretty much important while playing on overseas tours. Meanwhile, he believes that Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will become India’s top priority in the upcoming series for India. However, Farokh Engineer backs Ravichandran Ashwin and criticises Harbhajan.

Harbhajan Singh was critical on Ravichandran Ashwin – Farokh Engineer

Former India stumper Farokh Engineer has criticised ex-Test off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for his critical comments on R Ashwin’s performance. He felt that Harbhajan Singh completely lost himself while making comments on Ravichandran Ashwin.

“Did you read Harbhajan’s comments about Ashwin; he was out of order there. What is a first spinner and second spinner? Spinner is a spinner,” said Engineer during a talk show organised by Legends Club at the Cricket Club of India on Wednesday evening.

“Ashwin is a great bowler. It appeared to me he (Harbhajan) was critical of Ashwin. You don’t wash dirty linen in public especially on an off-spinner who has replaced you. It’s like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni criticising (Rishabh) Pant. It’s not cricket,” the 80-year-old added.

Ashwin was India’s premier spinner heading into series amid comparisons between him and Aussie counterpart Nathan Lyon. He started off well with a six-wicket haul in the opener at Adelaide Oval where India hade won by 31 runs. But an abdominal strain kept him in the sidelines for the remaining three matches of the series.

It wasn’t the first time for Ashwin to miss out Test matches with injury. It was the same story in England, where he missed the final Test at the Oval because of a hip injury. He had started the England tour well too, picking up seven wickets at Edgbaston before going dry.

Ravi Ashwin is out of contention for a spot in the Indian limited-overs team and he doesn’t have any international cricket to play in the next six months unless any call-ups. He would next be seen captaining Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the 12th edition of Indian Premier League.