IPL 2017 | Harbhajan slams Wankhede curator for batsman friendly track

Riding on Wriddhiman Saha’s unbeaten 96 off just 55 balls, Kings XI Punjab posted a colossal first innings total of 230 in their allotted 20 overs at the Wankhede last night. Chasing a huge total of 231 to win, Mumbai fell agonizingly short of the required target, losing by 7 runs after the herculean efforts of Lendl Simmons (59 off 32 balls) and Kieron Pollard (50 off 24 balls).

But, in the end, the collective efforts of the two West Indians were just not enough for Mumbai, as Punjab stopped Mumbai from chasing down the highest ever score in IPL history. The carnage at the Wankhede saw the bowlers being smashed all over the park and now, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed the curator of last night’s pitch, for making such a batsmen-friendly track.

Man of the match @ wankhede#curator almost 460 plus runs in 40 overs🤔🤔.Time is near when only bowling machines will b bowling not bowlers

However, before last night's game against Punjab, Harbhajan's Mumbai Indians teammate Mitchell McClenaghan had said that the change in the attitude of batsmen over the years and especially in this IPL had made it hard for bowlers, overall.

“If you look across the board in this IPL, there are times people have gone for 40-plus and very good bowlers simply go for 50 or 60, that is unheard of.”

McClenaghan has already bagged 18 wickets in IPL 2017 and is the third highest wicket-taker in the tournament, so far. The Kiwi also acknowledged that the game has become more batsmen-friendly, owing to the way some players from the younger generation batsmen approach the game.

“The frequency of that actually happening is far greater than the past season. It is just the way the game has changed, the equipment has changed, batsmen are playing with lot less fear, youngsters come in and swing from ball one. It is getting harder but you have to keep backing yourself and adapting as we always do.”