Out-of-favour off-spinner Harbhajan Singh received a lot of flak from the fans after he came up with baffling remarks for all-rounder Washington Sundar. The veteran spinner came down hard on the Indian national team selectors for the way they have handled India’s spin unit in recent times.
The Turbanator also lashed out at the selectors for not showing enough faith in spinners like Jalaj Saxena and Akshay Wakhare. It should be noted that Kerala’s Saxena and Vidarbha’s Wakhare have been doing considerably well consistently in domestic cricket.
While Saxena thrives to be one of most prolific all-rounders, Wakhare helped Vidarbha win two back-to-back Ranji Trophy accolades. Despite showcasing their mettle when it mattered the most, both the spinners hardly received support from the national selectors as they were nowhere close to getting a call-up.
Harbhajan Singh questions Washington Sundar’s place in Team India
Veteran spinner Harbhajan, who is not impressed with selectors has extended his support for Saxena and Wakhare.
In the process, he ended up making a bizarre comment for Sundar. The 2011 World Cup-winning spinner went on to say that Sunday is a ‘guy who cannot spin the ball’.
“There is a spinner named Jalaj Saxena (347 FC wickets and 6334 FC runs). They just refuse to consider him. He has been bowling superbly for so many seasons. Wakhare (279 wickets in 83 FC games) is a consistent bowler but no one looks at him. And then you say, spinners are getting lost in Indian cricket. He must have done something good for Vidarbha to have won the Ranji Trophy twice,” Harbhajan Singh told Sportstar.
“They pick this guy called Washington Sundar, who doesn’t even spin the ball. I just don’t get it. Why don’t you encourage a bowler who bowls genuine spin, who can lure the batsman out and have him stumped. If Washington can bat a bit, so can Jalaj, who is also a proper spinner,” he added in a statement.
Netizens did not like Harbhajan’s remarks for Sundar as they took to Twitter — to launch a scathing attack on him.
Here are some of the reactions:
Glory moments aside early on, Harbhajan wasn't as big a deal in India as some make him out to be. Spent the entire second half of his career bowling defensive lines. Used to make people scratch their heads with why isn't he making the batsmen drive more. A bit rich from him. https://t.co/FwItq8lU0f
— Tintin (@sassypenguin08) March 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/billz_25/status/1236525698342424576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1236525698342424576&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcricketaddictor.com%2Fcricket%2Ffans-slam-harbhajan-singh-after-he-calls-washington-sundar-a-guy-who-doesnt-even-spin-the-ball%2F
Each time u think he cannot get more worse, he proves you wrong!! https://t.co/msA8wEivTt
— Spidey (@MrStarksPeter) March 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/Kohlify/status/1236343845085802497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1236343845085802497&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcricketaddictor.com%2Fcricket%2Ffans-slam-harbhajan-singh-after-he-calls-washington-sundar-a-guy-who-doesnt-even-spin-the-ball%2F
Ironical to see such a statement coming from a guy who played alongside Anil Kumble. A spinner who never turned the ball but took 619 Test wickets. https://t.co/uv0osvNHsp
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) March 7, 2020
Washington Sundar
> Debut IPL 2017 bowled with 6.60 economy
> Won Nidhyas trophy man of series
> Still holds better Power play bowling economy in t20I
> This year SMAT he was MVP player for TN led them to semisAll this at the age of 20
What a clown you turned into https://t.co/rM96Yu4nFs
— Sai (@akakrcb6) March 7, 2020
Says someone who averaged 40 in Ban, 49 in SL & didn't get any wickets in Pak despite playing 2 Tests. Not even going to speak about his SENA stats!
After 2005 his Test bowling average every year was 53, 46, 32, 30, 41, 38, 42, 41 & 41!?
And he is rated as LEGEND! https://t.co/ebB1idJnym
— Mainak Sinha??️ (@cric_archivist) March 7, 2020