I will call Ravi Ashwin a legend when I meet him: Harbhajan Singh

Ravichandran Ashwin once again proved to the world why he is rated so highly as he became the fastest Indian bowler to breach the 400-wicket mark in Test cricket. Ashwin is now currently the 4th highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, and if he takes another 34 wickets, he will leapfrog Harbhajan Singh and Kapil Dev to take the second place in the all-time wicket-takers list for India.

And now, spin bowling great Harbhajan Singh has showered praises on Ashwin for breaching the 400-wicket mark. Harbhajan stated that Test cricket ‘tests’ a player’s physical and mental ability and taking 400 wickets in Test cricket is a great achievement.

‘Bhajji’ also added that when he meets Ashwin the next time, he will call him a legend. However, Harbhajan was prompt enough not to stress too much on the numbers and stated that Ashwin would be a legend even if he did not pick up 400 Test wickets because he has won so many matches for the country. India’s third-highest wicket-taker also said that it was ‘great’ to hear Indian skipper Virat Kohli calling Ashwin a legend.

“Taking 400 wickets is a very big thing and that too in Test cricket, a format which tests you mentally, physically and every other way. So, to dismiss 400 batsmen in that and win the team match after match is a huge thing. There is no doubt that R Ashwin is a legend. Even if he had not taken 400 wickets, it was not that he would not have been considered a legend because he has won India so many matches. It was great to hear Virat Kohli saying that he will be calling Ashwin a legend going forward. I will also call him a legend when I meet him next time,” said Harbhajan in a chat with Star Sports.

A bowler’s main task is to take wickets: Harbhajan Singh

The former Indian spinner further opined that the main task of a bowler is to pick up wickets and the most essential aspect of it is to scalp the wicket of the main batsman from the opposition camp.

Harbhajan stated that the two main batsmen in the England side were Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and added that Ashwin has dismissed the two batsmen not just now but has done it from the time he has been playing. Harbhajan concluded by stating that he prays for Ashwin’s success and hoped that he continues to obtain a stranglehold of the opposition batsmen.

“A bowler’s main task is to take wickets and that too the one which is most essential for the team, the main batsman from the opposition team. If I see this England batting, there are two big names in Ben Stokes and Joe Root. They have the ability to take England to a situation from where they can control the match. So, R Ashwin has a greater responsibility to get them out and he has not done that now but has done that very well from the time he has been playing and I pray that he continues doing so going ahead, that R Ashwin keeps a stranglehold on the main batsmen from the opposition team,” concluded the 40-year-old.