Veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has once again batted for the inclusion of Vidarbha spinner Akshay Wakhare and Kerala all-rounder Jalaj Saxena in the national side.
"Jalaj and Akshay have performed year after year at the domestic level, at times on flat tracks. I have seen Akshay closely at the Mumbai Indians nets. Age for me is just a number. I don't believe these two can't be tried," Harbhajan told PTI.
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The Turbanator has shared the dressing room with Wakhare for a couple of years at Mumbai Indians. Because of the settled playing XI, Wakhare couldn't get a game despite impressing the MI coaching staff.
After Vidarbha clinched their maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2017-18, Harbhajan had especially called Wakhare to congratulate him.
"He has the ability to take wickets. It would be better if Akshay doesn't play One-day and Twenty20 as he will have to change his trajectory," Harbhajan had said at that time.
In the 2017-18 season, Wakhare was the fourth highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy with 34 scalps at an average of 21.76 from 8 games.
In the subsequent season when Vidarbha retained the title, Wakhare again picked up 34 wickets at an average of 29.17.
Having watched Wakhare closely for two years, Harbhajan said: "He is a very good guy and talented off spinner. His ball has a lot of spin after pitching. He flights and has variations like a proper off spinner. Akshay has good knowledge about the game. He knows how to bowl to left-handers and right-handers. He is a great trier."
Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has also expressed disappointment over constant ignorance of Wakhare.
"Look at his record for the last five six seasons. Not many in the country have taken that many taken as Wakhare has.
"He has picked wickets even on green and flat wickets. It's good that Harbhajan has spoken about Wakhare. It's baffling not to see him even in India 'A' sides. Somebody like Washington Sundar, who doesn't turn much, regularly gets chances, while Wakhare hardly gets a look in," a VCA source quoted as saying by TOI.
