Harbhajan Singh Not In Favour Of Playing Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja In Day-Night Test
Published - 19 Nov 2019, 07:40 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:02 AM
Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh has once again advised India to prefer wrist-spinners over finger-spinners ahead of the day-night Test. The out-of-favour India spinner, who is perhaps not the biggest fan of Ravichandran Ashwin, has time and again voiced his support for the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
And as India gear up for the historic day-night Test, the legendary spinner has once again said that wrist-spinners will be a better option at the Eden Gardens. India, who currently lead the series 1-0, will take on Bangladesh in the much-awaited Test from November 22. The Test will kickstart both the team’s journey in day-night Tests.
“Wrist spinners will have one advantage if you see because it’s going to be very difficult to pick the seam (with black stitches) of pink ball,” Harbhajan Singh told PTI.
India has a wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav but Harbhajan didn’t want to talk on selection matters. At the same time, he admitted that Indian pacers could do serious damage with the ball before the spinners take charge.
“Well, that’s the team management’s call and I can’t comment. But then Bangladesh need to play the Indian pacers on the seamer-friendly track before spinners are fully operational,” he said.
“And also between 3.30 and 4.30 pm, the time of sunset in Kolkata where seamers are known to do maximum damage. But yes we need to figure out more about spinners if we want to play more D/N Tests in future,” he added.
Also Read: Incredible Stats Show Why Ravindra Jadeja Should Never Be Dropped From Test Playing XI
Why finger spinners may struggle in day-night Tests:
One of the finest finger spinners to have played for India, Harbhajan Singh went on to explain the reason behind his thinking. The Punjab stalwart pointed out Kuldeep Yadav’s performance during the 2016 Duleep Trophy, played with the pink ball.
“If you remember Duleep Trophy, no one could effectively read Kuldeep from his wrists. Leg spinners got lot of wickets during that edition,” Harbhajan said.
“When a finger spinner bowls, the ball is released with seam so that there is turn and bounce. When you are bowling the googly, the seam will be scrambled and very difficult to pick,” he explained.
India, meanwhile, are favourites for the much-awaited clash. The hosts thoroughly dominated the first Test and won it by an innings and 130 runs. Bangladesh had no answer to India’s relentless pacers and were all out for 150 and 213 in the two innings. India, on the other hand, had scored 493 for 6 (declared) in the first innings.
