Ravichandran Ashwin discusses Harbhajan Singh's influence

Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared reflections on his early career and his admiration for legendary off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Speaking on the JioHotstar program ‘Cheeky Singles’, Ashwin noted that while he initially focused on batting during his Under-19 days under Dinesh Karthik’s captaincy, he frequently mimicked Harbhajan’s bowling action in gully cricket.

Ashwin cited Harbhajan’s ability to stand up to opponents and his notable dismissals of Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as key inspirations. He admitted that while he never originally intended to become an off-spinner, Harbhajan’s character and fighting spirit deeply influenced his perspective on the game.

Additionally, Ashwin addressed a past incident involving England bowler James Anderson. He expressed disappointment regarding a remark made by Anderson following a high-scoring Test match in Mumbai where Virat Kohli scored a double century, suggesting the comment lacked sportsmanship.