'Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh would have had 1000 and 700 wickets respectively' - Gautam Gambhir backs Yuvraj Singh

The pitch talk around the ongoing Test series between India and England just doesn’t seem to end. After the third Test in Ahmedabad ended in two days, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh had tweeted that Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh would have got many more wickets if the pitches were like this during their time. 

Yuvraj Singh had written, “Finished in 2 days Not sure if that’s good for test cricket! If @anilkumble1074 and @harbhajan_singh bowled on these kinds of wickets they would be sitting on a thousand and 800.” Even though Yuvi didn’t find a lot of support from netizens, his former teammate Gautam Gambhir has voiced his opinion in support of the two-time World Cup winner. 

finished in 2 days Not sure if that’s good for test cricket !If @anilkumble1074 and @harbhajan_singh bowled on these kind of wickets they would be sitting on a thousand and 800 ?🤔However congratulations to 🇮🇳 @akshar2026 what a spell! congratulations @ashwinravi99 @ImIshant 💯

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) February 25, 2021

During an interaction, Gambhir said that the Decision Review System (DRS) plays an important role. He expressed that had DRS existed during the times of Kumble and Harbhajan, they would have got many more wickets. Kumble ended with 619 wickets while Harbhajan ended with 417 wickets, but Gambhir said they would have got 1000 and 700 wickets respectively. 

Wickets are different today but DRS today plays a huge role: Gautam Gambhir

“Yes, wickets are different today but DRS today plays a huge role. Had there been DRS when Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh was bowling, Kumble would have gone to 1000 wickets and Harbhajan would have got around 700 wickets because DRS plays a massive role especially in India where there are a lot of inside edges, or bat pads and stuff,” Gambhir said on the ‘Runorder’ show on ESPNCricinfo when asked if he agrees with Yuvraj’s tweet.

Gambhir also further went on to say that when the pitch offers spin, the pressure on Ravichandran Ashwin is much more. Ashwin reached 400 Test wickets in the ongoing series and became the second-fastest to reach the landmark. He has picked up 24 wickets in three matches, while his partner-in-crime, Axar Patel has 18 wickets in two matches. 

“From that point of view, I do agree with Yuvraj Singh, but from the point of view that they played on these kinds of pitches, probably not. Because see, wickets have been the same for everyone. Ashwin doesn’t ask for these kinds of wickets, it’s the team management that asks for it. And when you prepare such wickets, Ashwin is under more pressure to deliver,” Gambhir added.