Recent weeks have witnessed a barrage of complaint directed against the Indian captain, together with remarks from the mythical cricketer Sunil Gavaskarwho expressed dissatisfaction with Rohit’s management all through the World Test Championship (WTC) ultimate in opposition to Australia. Harbhajan, having spent vital time with Rohit in each the Indian and Mumbai Indians dressing rooms, emphasised the immense appreciate that the proficient cricketer instructions amongst his friends. He referred to as for everybody to acknowledge Rohit’s features and rally at the back of him all through those checking out occasions.
“I find that people are going a bit overboard… the way Rohit has been criticized. Cricket is a team sport and one individual cannot take you from one place to another,” Harbhajan mentioned in an interview forward of India’s subsequent Test task in opposition to the west indies.
“Team India didn’t do well in the WTC final, and yes, you talk about that performance and move on from there. But it is unfair to criticize Rohit alone, that he is not scoring runs, putting on weight, not captaining well . I think he is a brilliant leader,” the veteran of 103 Tests mentioned.
For Harbhajan, the will of the hour is to turn religion in Rohit’s management talent.
“I have played with him (Rohit) and watched him closely. He commands a lot of respect not only in the MI dressing room but also in the Indian dressing room. So I think it’s unfair to judge him on the basis of recent results.
“He will come just right and we wish to display religion in him and we wish to reinforce him reasonably than pinpointing that you’re not doing this or that.”
Throughout Indian cricket history, influential captains have often received significant support from the BCCI and its influential administrators. Sourav Ganguly, for example, benefited greatly from the vital backing of Jagmohan Dalmiya, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni enjoyed unwavering support from another influential figure within the BCCI, N Srinivasan, during his captaincy tenure.
Similarly, during Virat Kohli’s most successful days as captain, he had the endorsement of Vinod Rai, a former CAG and head of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), who supported all of his decisions.
With regards to Rohit, Harbhajan hoped that he had been receiving the kind of robust support from the BCCI that his predecessors received.
“If you might have the reinforce from the BCCI, you’ll be able to paintings freely. Not simply MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, in the event you return a little bit additional, a large number of captains have were given reinforce from BCCI presidents of that point.
“Rohit must be getting support from BCCI. I don’t know how much support he must be getting (though). Having that kind of support will help him take right kind of decision at the right time.
“He gets that liberty if he has that reinforce. Support will have to be there for Rohit like BCCI has given it to all its captains,” the ‘Turbanator’ said.
Pujara did ‘dirty work’ for the team and deserves way more respect
Cheteshwar Pujara, a doyen at No. 3 in India’s batting order, has been dropped and Harbhajan feels that Indian cricket hasn’t exactly learned to value his contribution.
“I’ve a large number of appreciate for Pujara for what he has accomplished. He has been an unsung hero of the Indian workforce for a few years now. He has been a type of pillars of power for India, doing the grimy paintings of placing in there , ensuring different batters were given their convenience,” Harbhajan was blunt as ever in his assessment.
Harbhajan has expressed his massive displeasure with the “loss of appreciate” for the Saurashtra man and the fact that the yardstick to judge performances hasn’t been the same for every senior player.
“I consider he must be given somewhat extra appreciate than what he has been given and the best way he was once chucked out of the workforce was once a wonder for me. Because he is not the one one now not scoring runs. There are others as smartly who play in that very same workforce who’re scoring runs at identical moderate,” Harbhajan said.
He didn’t name any other player, but it could be a thinly-veiled reference to Virat Kohli’s sub-30 average during the same period, the time when Pujara struggled for big scores and paid the price recently.
“I feel the foundations must be the similar for everybody, now not other for various other folks. Look, if you wish to drop a senior man like him, communicate to him and make him perceive ‘have a look at this what we want to do’.
“Tell him what’s the way forward, make him understand. All he needs is a bit more respect.”
Harbhajan may be aggravated with Pujara’s strike-rate and intent being wondered over and over, with out other folks working out {that a} Test workforce calls for conventional avid gamers, who herald steadiness.
“In case of Pujara, we keep hearing about his strike-rate of scoring runs in Tests but because of that strike-rate, the wickets remain intact and that’s a huge contribution.
“So it’s a must to see which man is contributing what. You wish to see how a lot the workforce wishes him. In my opinion, the workforce nonetheless wishes him.
“When you go abroad (SENA countries), you need one such batter as you can’t have everyone playing strokes all the time. You need someone who plays normal Test cricket, just like Pujara.”
Harbhajan was once all reward for Ajinkya Rahane for the style during which he made a comeback to the Test enviornment, with knocks of 89 and 46 in opposition to Australia within the WTC ultimate on the Oval.
“The way he made a comeback, he really looked good in that WTC finale. Now he is the vice-captain again.
“You wish to display religion in those avid gamers in order that they are able to do smartly once more. A just right participant is a great participant. Doesn’t subject in case you are going ahead or backward (along with his variety).”
Has anyone tried telling Sarfaraz why is he not being picked?
Harbhajan understands that the current crop of players will get a long rope before a domestic performer like sarfaraz khan gets a chance, but Harbhajan wants that the young Mumbaikar is told about the areas that he has to work on, with an assurance that he is there in the mix.
“Sarfaraz gets his alternative as he has scored closely in home cricket. I need to know if someone has made an effort to move and communicate to him, could also be from BCCI or state associations?,” he asked.
“He is scoring runs, so you want to move and communicate to him. Try and make him the participant you wish to have him to be. You must stay him across the crew and stay him motivated that he’ll be decided on,” he elaborated.
‘On spin bowling options after Ashwin and Jadeja’
The Indian team has been served admirably in home Tests by Ravichandran Ashwin (474 wickets) and Ravindra Jadeja (268 wickets). However, Ashwin is pushing 37 and Jadeja is nearing 35, and the team will need to explore other options in the near future.
Asked about the spin bowling reserves after the celebrated duo decides to make a move on in two-three years’ time, Harbhajan said the decision-makers in and around the Indian team should encourage a lot of domestic spinners and make them understand the importance and incentives of playing test cricket.
“I feel it’s one thing to do with home cricket. You speak about Jayant, no matter little Test cricket he performed, he has bowled smartly and is superb with the bat and you’ve got to turn religion in them.
“I want to see Axar Patel more and more as he is the one going forward. He is going to replace Jadeja. But Axar is also not too young compared to Jadeja.”
Kuldeep Yadav, who were given 5 wickets on Test debut, stays a thriller for Harbhajan.
“Kuldeep was another spinner, when he took those five wickets in Australia, we heard that he would be the guy who would be playing abroad (in SENA) for India, but, after that, he never played abroad.
“I dont know what took place after that. Maybe he took 5 wickets and he paid the associated fee for taking the ones wickets,” said the spin great, the sarcasm in his tone quite evident.
He also felt that someone of Yuzvendra Chahal‘s caliber needs to be encouraged more to play Ranji Trophy and stake a claim for a Test spot.
“I’m really not announcing we do not have spinners however, someway, we wish to lead them to need to play Test cricket. Like Yuzvendra Chahal, who’s a most sensible spinner and performs in T20 codecs, however then, I am getting shocked that he does not ‘t function in Asia Cup or World Cup.
“You have to make those spinners believe that you are good enough to play Test cricket. You have to push them to play Ranji Trophy so that they learn the art of bowling longer spells.”
(With PTI inputs)