MI vs RPS, IPL qualifier: Wankhede curator to dish out batting-friendly surface

The Wankhede Stadium pitch curator said that he has prepared a true wicket for the IPL 2017 qualifier between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant.

The Wankhede Stadium pitch to be used for Tuesday’s Qualifier 1 between Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians may not bring a smile on Harbhajan Singh’s face.

Mumbai Indians face Rising Pune Supergiant in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League. (PTI)

The MI off-spinner had lashed out at the curator Ramesh Mhamunkar after 413 runs were scored in 40 overs in the last match played here between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab.

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Although Wriddhiman Saha was adjudged Man of the Match for his 93, Harbhajan joked on Twitter that it should have been the Wankhede curator. “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,” he had tweeted.

Unfazed by the criticism, Mhamunkar is believed to have prepared a ‘true and typical- Wankhede’ wicket.

“It is easy to blame the curator. This wicket is true. It will help the batsmen and it will provide some assistance to bowlers too. There is always good bounce and carry at Wankhede because of the nature of the soil. Tomorrow’s wicket will also have runs, but the total won’t go beyond 200 unless the bowlers bowl badly,” said a source close to the curator.

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Harbhajan has picked just eight wickets in 11 matches this season. His economy rate (of 6.42), however, has been very good.

The Wankhede wicket has seen a total in excess of 200 just once, in the last game. Otherwise, the scores have been well below 200 in IPL 2017.