Harbhajan Singh accuses Ravichandran Ashwin of getting favours from pitch curators

Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh criticised compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin, accusing the bowling all-rounder of getting a ‘lot of favours’ from pitch curators, as reported by Anandabazar Patrika.

The spinner also revealed that he himself had never received such favours in his prime.

When asked about Harbhajan’s accusation, Ashwin replied that it was not Kohli or Kumble’s job to prepare the wickets. He also questioned why India should not take advantage of home wickets when other teams do the same at their home grounds.

“We don't decide the nature of the wickets. Neither Kohli nor Kumble rolls or waters the track. It's unfortunate that people don't understand this,” said Ashwin, when contacted by the same Bengali newspaper.

“Nobody is bothered when England wins a Test in two days. So what's the problem if the same happens in India?" he continued his argument.

Ashwin also said that neither he nor his Indian team members have enough time to read these comments, “One thing which I can say is that we have no time to read all these comments.”

When Harbhajan Singh was contacted by the newspaper for his reaction over Ashwin’s comments, Harbhajan replied, “I think he (Ashwin) should enjoy his success. Alas, had we bowled on such wickets.”

“I will still stick to my point,” Singh further said.

"Skill should be the deciding factor and not the conditions. Once the conditions start playing a bigger role, skill falls behind,” he said.

Following his 10-wicket spell in Kanpur, Ashwin became the second fastest bowler to pick up 200 Test wickets behind Clarrie Grimmett. A majority of these Test wickets were picked by the bowling all-rounder in the domestic pitches, where wickets were subject to several controversies in the recent past. The pitches were also under investigation during India’s win over South Africa in their last Test series.

In the ongoing Test series between India and New Zealand, India won the first match against the Kiwis with a huge margin of 197 runs. Ashwin has established himself as the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack, whereas Harbhajan Singh has not featured in the Indian Test team since June last year.

The Indian Cricket team is to play another 12 Test matches in this season.