Harbhajan Singh claims Ashwin's presence prohibits him a national spot

Indian star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in a no holds barred interview went ahead to state that with Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian squad, it is very difficult for him to come back into the squad. He also made several allegations against the selectors for sidelining some of the former players from the Indian line-up.

Harbhajan for the past couple years has been out of favour from the national side. He was a part of India’s T20I campaign last year against Australia, Sri Lanka, and the Asia Cup T20Is, on the road to ICC World T20 2016. There again Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took the centre stage as the veteran played a single match in the four tournaments, that against UAE.

Despite a decent season in the IPL, he was overlooked by the selectors along with Gautam Gambhir for the 15-member squad to England and Wales for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy starting 1st June. Harbhajan slammed the selectors for having different rules for different personnel in the team.

Bhajji playing under the shadows of Ashwin

“He [Ashwin] was rested for the IPL because he needs to get fit for the Champions Trophy. I understand all of that. But if you do well, you should be rewarded or considered at least. Aisa naheen key humney discuss naheen kiya, next question (it is not the case that we did not discuss). Why do we have two different rules for two different people?” commented Bhajji vociferously in an interview with NDTV.

“Because he was rested by the team management itself given the thought that we need him totally fit for the Champions Trophy. In scenarios like this with one or two players we can make this exception. But even in the case of Ashwin I’m sure a fitness test will happen,” added the Turbanator.

He ended by stating the right call will be taken especially with the like of Kohli and Anil Kumble in the team.

“Knowing Virat and Anil-bhai [Kumble] I’m sure they would not want to have an injured player in the squad. And knowing Ashwin, he is a champion bowler, he will not say that ‘I’m half-fit, but take me’. He will say if he is feeling a niggle. I wish he is okay and I wish him all the luck to do well in the Champions Trophy,” concluded Bhajji.