After Ravi Ashwin’s retirement, India does not have a specialist right-arm off-spinner in Tests: Harbhajan Singh

Former Indian spinner and analyst Harbhajan Singh has asserted that Team India doesn’t have a specialist right-arm off-spinner in the longest format of the game after Ravi Ashwin retired from the format.

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Speaking exclusively on PTI, the Turbanator stated that though Washington Sundar has been part of the Test squad, he hasn’t been used for longer spells. Bhajji went on to add that Sundar will need to bowl 30-35 overs in a Test match to make a bowler out of him.

“Looks like (India does not have a specialist right-arm off-spinner for Test cricket). I think Washington Sundar is there, but we will have to bowl him more. He will have to be bowled for 30-35 overs in a Test match to make a bowler out of him,” Harbhajan Singh told PTI.

Furthermore, Bhajji also reckoned that it’s high time for the Indian Test team to play on good surfaces. Notably, India’s recent first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata was concluded in 2.5 days, which raised serious concerns among the Indian cricketing fraternity.

“The kind of pitches we have been playing on, there is no requirement of making a bowler out of anyone because every delivery spins or some straighten. A bowler can (only) be considered good when he takes wickets on good pitches,” he added.

“We should play on good cricket pitches; it is high time. If you look at it, we are stuck at that one place, and when we play on good wickets, it becomes a case of being required to look into the mirror,” he concluded.

With India suffered a 0-2 whitewash to South Africa in the two-match Test series at home, they will next take on the Proteas in the three-match ODI series, starting on Sunday, November 30, in Ranchi.

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