Who is greater as of now - Ashwin or Harbhajan?

[dilliboy]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

This is a question and you want me to answer?

 

Wait, you actually want an answer? 

 

It's not the Punjabi guy that much is clear. 

For me it was quite clear that it is Ashwin.. Only the above Cricinfo debate was throwing some doubt on that opinion in the wider world

[ash]

For now the order is Kumble - Ashwin - Bhajji - Jaddu.

 

End of career I expect Ashwin - Jaddu - Kumble - Bhajji

[Nikola]

Harbhajan averages 27.87 for first 50 tests (till 2005) & next 53 matches he averaged 37.53

[Jimmy Cliff]

56 minutes ago, Nikola said:

Harbhajan averages 27.87 for first 50 tests (till 2005) & next 53 matches he averaged 37.53

 

His average took a huge hit in the 2006 series vs Pak IIRC. It went from ~28 to ~30 in just 3 Tests. He bowled on some disgustingly flat pitches vs a strong batting lineup (at least against spin) in that series. 

Edited February 27, 2021 by Jimmy Cliff

[shortbread]

21 hours ago, Nikola said:

Harbhajan averages 27.87 for first 50 tests (till 2005) & next 53 matches he averaged 37.53

 

Ashwing is a better and smarter off spinner. Bhajji started darting the ball, from a wily off spinner he turned into a stump to stump darter. Ashwin is also a slightly better batsman, Bhajji was more like a pinch hitter.

 

Bhajji is by far the better fielder, he gave everything. Ashwin fields like he's made of crystal and might break if dropped!

 

[Ankit_sharma03]

 

[vijaydude]

1 hour ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

 

Which is why he should check the stats of Ashwin before DRS. He averaged 24 with 220 wickets then. He averages 24 since.

 

Essentially, no difference at all. Pretty much the same with Jadeja too.

[Vk1]

2 minutes ago, vijaydude said:

Which is why he should check the stats of Ashwin before DRS. He averaged 24 with 220 wickets then. He averages 24 since.

 

Essentially, no difference at all. Pretty much the same with Jadeja too.

sometimes when you hear these ex-cricketers talk you would wonder if an analyst is better than a former cricketer in analyzing the game.

[Vk1]

On 2/27/2021 at 1:37 PM, SK_IH said:

Harbhajan had his share of performances but he was always under shadow of Anil Kumble. He blew hot & col far too often & there used to be that nonsensical phrase used for his bowling in mid 2000s i.e. when he picks up a wicket early in his spell he gets a truckloads of wickets, otherwise he gets impatient. He enjoyed the support of the two captains he played under but IMO he never became the match winner in the mould of Kumble. He enjoyed the prospect of playing second fiddle in a bowling partnership. 

Secondly, Harbhajan always used to struggle when he came up against SL & Pakistan, two fine teams against spinners. Infact he used to get smashed, becoming a liability.

Overall, Ashwin is a tier above Harbhajan as a bowler. Ashwin has more guiles & wiles as a spinner than Harbhajan. Thankfully, Ashwin will most probably go past Harbhajan's tally of wickets in an year's time, confirming his superiority over Harbhajan even in records.

 

Bhajji used to get lot of bounce along with turn and most of his wickets were caught at shortleg. Once he lost that bounce, he became average.

[Number]

Ashwin is better imo. Pretty sure he would have found a way to do reasonably well against better batting line ups too. I doubt Bhajji could have through batting line ups the way Ashwin does after his novelty wore off.

[Vilander]

On 2/28/2021 at 9:59 AM, shortbread said:

Ashwin fields like he's made of crystal and might break if dropped

the most frustrating thing in Indian field is seeing Ashwin and Pujara field.. when they run behind the ball not run lumber i should say.. pujara has this jutting his chest thing as well where he is still running super slow as if by jutting his chest he will magically get closer to the ball. Ashwin just ambles at best. 

[Vilander]

Harbhajan was a very good spinner, after his doosra shelved he became poorer and flatter pitches and lack of bounce made him ineffective he more declined out of the team than retiring. Ashwin is bowling with a strong bowling unit and gets fair bowling surfaces but recently is doing better overseas as well. We will know who is better when Ashwin ends his career. 

[Gollum]

Let us ask Bedi. 

[Gollum]

17 hours ago, vijaydude said:

Which is why he should check the stats of Ashwin before DRS. He averaged 24 with 220 wickets then. He averages 24 since.

 

Essentially, no difference at all. Pretty much the same with Jadeja too.

Interesting. Wish someone can also do some digging about DRS/LBW stats. I am led to believe that post-2016 November all an Indian bowler has to do is hit the pads and up goes the finger. Wasn't the case before 2016, even with home umpires officiating. 

[Sean Bradley]

Ashwin, Period, Harbhajan was ok, but Ashwin is easily a level above him as a cricketer, as a bowler, as a batter, as a reader of the game, with better cricketing sense, Harbhajan comes across as someone who is jealous, annoying and whining person. 

[coffee_rules]

IMO, he has surpassed Bhajji in many ways and in his overall career , he will surpass Kumble on performance. The fact that batting quality is weaker against spin in this age than in Kumble’s, and also pitches are more conducive to spin now than earlier owing to the latter.  In Kumble’s age, there were more drawn matches than now, flatter pitches and better batsmen. Bhajji was limited, and also had a dodgy action bowling with full sleeves shirt.

Edited March 2, 2021 by coffee_rules

[Jimmy Cliff]

 

 

Good read.

 

[Muloghonto]

Ashwin and its not even close. Aswhin is far better overseas than Bhajji.

[Vijy]

14 minutes ago, Muloghonto said:

Ashwin and its not even close. Aswhin is far better overseas than Bhajji.

yes, and he's always been improving. bhajji really lost his mojo from mid-career onward. at his peak, he was amazing, but even then a bit of a one-trick pony.

[Muloghonto]

4 minutes ago, Vijy said:

yes, and he's always been improving. bhajji really lost his mojo from mid-career onward. at his peak, he was amazing, but even then a bit of a one-trick pony.

Like saqlain he became over-reliant on the doosra and due to his preference of ODI cricket, lost all flight,loop and turn to basically become a less variety right arm Jadeja - wicket to wicket dart bowler who is incredibly hard to score off of but you can block all day long.