Harbhajan Singh responds after Rohit Sharma invites him to bowl on Visakhapatnam wicket in 1st Test

When Rohit Sharma is around, how can fun be far away? The ace Indian batsman made a big comeback to Test cricket in the ongoing first Test match against South Africa in Visakhapatnam by hitting 176 in just 244 balls. He added 317 runs with his opening partner Mayank Agarwal (215) to take India to a strong position in the game.

India had the Proteas in a corner on Day 2 but let them off a bit on the third day, thanks to 164-run partnership between Dean Elgar (160) and Quinton de Kock (111). SA ended the day at 385 for 8, trailing by another 117 runs. As the visitors kept on fighting to stay alive in the game, Rohit came up with something funny.

He was heard inviting Harbhajan Singh, who is doing commentary in the series, to come and bowl on the wicket and make use of the bowlers’ footmark created on the pitch. “Bhajju pa, aapke liye rough create hua hain, idhaar aajaiyee… bowling daliye (Bhajji, there are rough spots on the pitch that will suit you, come and bowl on this surface),” the cricketer was heard saying.

Harbhajan praised Rohit’s bowling on Vizag strip

Harbhajan, who has not retired from international cricket yet despite having played his last Test more than four years ago, was in splits to hear Rohit’s invitation. He even lauded Rohit for the latter’s bowling on the wearing wicket (the batsman, who bowls off-break, did two overs to concede seven runs and one of the two overs was a maiden) and asked Rohit to deliver one ball like him.

Rohit responded to Harbhajan with lots of smileys. Harbhajan is currently the third-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 417 scalps from 103 matches at an average of 32.46. Only Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434) have more wickets than him.

Harbhajan could have been helpful on the pitch as another senior off-spinner Ravi Ashwin took a seven-wicket haul on the surface in his comeback Test after a while. Ashwin is the fourth highest wicket-taker for India in the longer format with 349 scalps. The ongoing Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Sounds like Rohit Sharma on stump mic talking to Harbhajan Singh ? This after Ashwin picked up his 5th wicket. Listen to the audio #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/muC5gp3i8B

— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) October 4, 2019

Here is Harbhajan Singh’s reply

😂😂😂coming.. u bowled well too right on the target @ImRo45 ek ball mere style de bi karna next time 😜 https://t.co/NAbJItmLBs

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 4, 2019

Watch: 5 Players who should’ve retired after 2019 World Cup but didn’t