Former Pakistan spin wizard Saqlain Mushtaq has heaped praise on India’s veteran specialist spinner Harbhajan Singh while predicting that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will end up playing 100 Test matches each for the country.
The off-spinner is one of the biggest match-winners that India has produced in the history of the game and him alongside Anil Kumble made one of the greatest spin-bowling pairs of all time.
Having made his debut in 1998, Harbhajan has played 103 Tests for the country so far and he still remains India’s third-highest wicket-taker with 417 scalps only behind Anil Kumble (619 Test wickets in 132 Tests) and Kapil Dev (434 wickets in 131 Tests).
He is also 13th in the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in the world in the Test cricket. Despite being an incredible weapon for the team across formats, the turbanator went out of favor with the emergence of premier off-spinner Ashwin and couldn’t return in whites since 2015.
Saqlain, former England spin consultant, was surprised that such a talented bowler was dropped, saying Harbhajan was destined for more given his caliber and talent while claiming the spinner could have easily taken 700 Test wickets for India.
He also believes that both Ashwin and Bhajji could have easily played together in playing eleven since they have different styles.
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He told PTI, “In fact, I was surprised when a great like Bhajji was dropped. Both Ashwin and Bhajji have different styles and could have easily played together in the playing eleven. If two right-hand pacers can play regularly, why not spinners? Such was Bhajji’s class that he could have easily taken 700 Test wickets.”
Former Pakistan international has also showered praise on the quality of current Indian spinners, saying he is confident that both Ashwin and Jadeja will end up playing 100 Tests for India.
Mushtaq signed off by saying, “The spinners you (India) have been pretty good actually. Kuldeep (Yadav) has been impressive, Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja have been doing well consistently. They are world-class bowlers. I am pretty confident that Ashwin and Jadeja will end up playing 100 Tests each.”
(With PTI Inputs)
