Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that the India’s star batsmen have lost their confidence in the last few years by playing on turning pitches which has led to a drop in their domestic average and adversely affected their careers. Harbhajan Singh gave the example of Ajinkya Rahane and said that he is a great player but due to such pitches, his career was affected.
India lost their first home Test series in 12 years, on the turning pitch of Pune against New Zealand. India lost the important toss and after that the team could only score 156 and 245 runs. In this, New Zealand’s main spinner Mitchell Santner took 13 wickets to lead New Zealand to a historic test series win.
“Look at the trend over the last decade. We are playing mostly on turners with the hope that we will win the toss, score 300, and control the game,” Harbhajan Singh said.
‘forever fighting doubts about whether to attack or defend’
“if you don’t know which ball will turn and which one will go straight, you are forever fighting doubts about whether to attack or defend. If you get chance at right time, you can become Virat Kohli or else you could be Amol Mujumdar or Amarjeet Kaypee.”
According to ‘Bhajji’, “Here if you don’t know which one will turn and which one will go straight, you are forever fighting doubts whether to attack or defend. Even Virat Kohli has fared well abroad in last few years where the ball comes onto the bat.”
‘Is that a good thing?’
“Now you have three bad home Tests on these tracks but selectors know that you are a good player and take you on overseas tour, but by then, not having runs under your belt has started playing havoc with your mindset. You also fail in a couple of overseas Tests, and suddenly, you are out of the team. Is that a good thing?”