Cricket

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia will be a crucial test for India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, according to former India pacer Harbhajan Singh. India suffered a historic 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand in a Test series at home, and they need to bounce back in style against the mighty Aussies. The World Test Championship finale spot is also at stake.Gambhir's anger and patience will be tested, but he needs to stay calm if he wants Team India to perform better, said Harbhajan. "It is difficult to run big teams, everyone takes time. If the results were fine, everyone would have said 'see, Gautam is making the team win'. The series against Australia is important, a lot of things will be tested. Gautam Gambhir who will be sitting outside, his anger and patience will be tested," Harbhajan said on Jatin Sapru's YouTube channel."He cannot control anything from the outside, big players get frustrated sitting on the sidelines. This Test, Gambhir needs to pass. The tour is very important for Gambhir. In this country, everyone has an opinion. Gautam Gambhir must be feeling low, he is on the radar. If the series doesn't go well, Gambhir will be at the receiving end. I want him to stay calm and for the team to perform well," he added.According to a report by the Indian Express, India skipper Rohit Sharma will not play in the first Test match against Australia, and Jasprit Bumrah will serve as captain in his absence. The report claimed that Rohit has already informed the BCCI that he will be spending more time with wife Ritika Sajdeh following the birth of their second child."We were hoping that he (Rohit) would travel but he has informed the BCCI that he can't go now as he needs some more time. He will be flying to Australia for the pink-ball Test match, the second match, in Adelaide. There is a nine-day gap between the first and second Test matches, so Rohit will be able to be there on time," a BCCI official told Indian Express.

The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to commence in Perth next week, and former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes a strong start is crucial for India's chances of retaining the trophy.Despite a disappointing 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand, Harbhajan remains optimistic about India's batting lineup. He attributes the poor performance against New Zealand to the contrasting home conditions, which will be vastly different from the bouncy pitches in Australia."I am not considering the cricket India played recently because conditions were different," Harbhajan said. "Australia will have good conditions. Pitches will be good."Harbhajan believes India has a 50-50 chance of retaining the trophy, with the batters expected to perform well on the Australian surfaces. He emphasizes the need for a player like Cheteshwar Pujara, who can grind down the opposition bowlers.However, Harbhajan warns that a loss in the series opener could create problems and increase pressure on India. "The first Test will be very important. If India start well in Perth, then the team will give a solid fight in the series. If India doesn't start well, then problems will escalate for India."Harbhajan also backs KL Rahul to shine in Australia, despite his struggles in the home season. "KL Rahul has been criticized so much. He is a class player."After the Perth Test, India will have a 10-day break before the day-night Test in Adelaide. The third Test will be held in Brisbane, followed by the Boxing-Day match in Melbourne. The New Year's Test will start from January 3 in Sydney.

Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his disappointment over the selection committee's decision to overlook Ranji Trophy record-holder Jalaj Saxena for the India A team. Saxena, who has played in the domestic circuit for 17 years, holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have 400 wickets and 6000 runs to his name in Ranji Trophy history.In response to a tweet mentioning Saxena's record, Harbhajan questioned the relevance of domestic tournaments in the current scenario where players are being picked from the Indian Premier League (IPL). "Agree with you. He should be considered at least for India A. Useless of playing Ranji now? People are getting picked from IPL," Harbhajan replied.Harbhajan's comments come in the wake of India's disappointing 3-0 series defeat against New Zealand at home. The former cricketer said that it was a disappointing result for the Rohit Sharma-led side, especially considering the expectations before the series."This entire series has been quite disappointing for all of us. When New Zealand came here, the expectation was that the result would be 3-0 and India would win the series. I can only say that they outplayed us and they took advantage of those conditions," Harbhajan told ANI.Harbhajan praised New Zealand for their performance, saying that they outplayed India and took advantage of the conditions. He also highlighted the importance of playing to one's strengths and adapting to different conditions."New Zealand played to their strengths. They knew that they had a good spin attack and they used it to their advantage. They also adapted to the conditions very well," Harbhajan said.Harbhajan's comments have sparked a debate about the importance of domestic tournaments and the role of the IPL in player selection. It remains to be seen whether the selection committee will reconsider their decision and include Saxena in the India A team for the upcoming matches against Australia A.

Brett Lee, the legendary Australian fast bowler, has opened up about his intense on-field rivalry with former India spinner Harbhajan Singh. Lee revealed that he "hated" bowling to Harbhajan due to his constant sledging and bizarre antics.Harbhajan's tactics included incessant chatter, hopping around the crease, and even mocking Lee's pace. "He would sledge and he would hop in and going after me 'You're quick'. I could never get him; I was always exhausted," Lee recalled on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.Lee acknowledged that sledging was common in cricket, but Harbhajan's antics were particularly effective in disrupting his rhythm. "He used to annoy the hell out of me," Lee admitted. "He is an absolute legend of a bloke, but he used to frustrate the sh out of me when I bowled to him."Lee believes that the 2001 Test series, where India famously defeated Australia, was a turning point for Indian cricket. "It was them saying 'We can match Australia. Not just match; we can beat them'," Lee said.Since then, Indian players have become increasingly aggressive on the field, matching the intensity of their Australian counterparts. Lee praised Virat Kohli's leadership and MS Dhoni's quiet but determined approach."I love the way Kohli plays. He is such a good player... with that aggression," Lee said. "And you've got different guys like back in the day, MS Dhoni... didn't say anything. Just did what he had to do and wouldn't back down."Lee's comments highlight the fierce rivalry between Australia and India, which has produced some of the most memorable moments in cricket history. Despite the on-field battles, Lee holds Harbhajan in high regard, recognizing his skill and the impact he had on the game.

India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat to New Zealand has sparked a wave of introspection and criticism, with former spinner Harbhajan Singh expressing his disappointment and pointing out the pitfalls of over-preparing spin-friendly pitches.Harbhajan, who played 103 Tests for India, believes that the pitches in the recent series were excessively spin-friendly, which backfired against the Kiwis. "The conditions here were offering a lot of turn—Gaddha khoda toh tha lekin gir khud gaaye (we dug a pit for others, but we ended up falling into it ourselves)," he quipped.The former spinner emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that both the captain and the team share responsibility for the defeat. He believes that while India aimed to create challenging conditions for New Zealand, the approach ultimately favored the visitors' bowling attack, particularly left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel.Patel's six wickets in the final Test sealed a thrilling 25-run win for New Zealand, dismantling India's batting lineup and securing the historic 3-0 sweep. Harbhajan believes that India could have won the series on standard pitches, potentially with a 2-0 or 2-1 margin."Test cricket means that a match should ideally go on for five days and the better team should emerge victorious. I think the conditions should not be tampered with too much. If you want to play good cricket, then you have to play on a good wicket," Harbhajan said.The series defeat has raised questions about India's pitch preparation strategy and the need for a more balanced approach. Harbhajan's comments highlight the importance of creating pitches that challenge both batsmen and bowlers, allowing for a fair contest and a more entertaining spectacle for fans.

Harbhajan Singh: Transition in Indian Cricket Inevitable, Replacements Will EmergeFormer Indian cricket spinner Harbhajan Singh has witnessed firsthand the transition in Indian cricket between 2011-2013, when stalwarts like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and VVS Laxman retired. He believes that age, fitness, and form are crucial factors in player selection, but questions arise when players start losing their edge."Age is a factor for some in this team, but Virat and Jaddu are extremely fit guys," Singh said. "Yes, age, fitness, and form are criteria, but the questions crop up once you start losing. The onus obviously comes on seniors in the team."However, Singh strongly refutes the notion that certain players cannot be replaced. "Who says you can't get replacements? You got replacements in the past, and you will get them in the future," he asserted. "The game will move on, and we will get replacements."Singh emphasized the abundance of talent in domestic cricket, citing the examples of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Sarfaraz Khan. "It is about getting the right opportunities at the right time," he said. "If you get a chance at the right time, you can become Virat Kohli, or else you could be Amol Mujumdar or Amarjeet Kaypee."Singh believes that it took Virat Kohli 15 years to become the player he is today. "So you need to look at the talent and maybe have an idea that, yes, this boy, if persisted with, can become a match-winner for a decade," he said.While Singh does not anticipate an immediate transition, he believes that the upcoming Australia series will be a "make or break" for many players in the team. "This Australia series will be a make or break for many in the team," he concluded.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed uncertainty over Rohit Sharma's retention by Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, he believes that Rohit's recent T20 World Cup triumph could sway the franchise's decision.Harbhajan, who has won three IPL titles under Rohit's captaincy, believes that the Mumbai Indians will prioritize retaining their core group. He predicts that Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma will be retained alongside Rohit."Mumbai Indians haven't played well in the last two to three years," Harbhajan said. "But they're a champion team, and they'll definitely think of building a team for the future. They'll retain experienced players, and I think Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma will be retained."Harbhajan also suggested Nehal Wadhera as a potential uncapped retention for Mumbai Indians. "He's an uncapped player, so he should be picked," he added.In the IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the table under Pandya's captaincy. They won just four games out of 14 league stage fixtures.Harbhajan's comments highlight the challenges facing Mumbai Indians as they prepare for the IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise will need to make strategic decisions about which players to retain and which to release in order to rebuild a competitive team.

India's star batters have suffered a significant decline in confidence due to the excessive use of rank turners in home matches, according to former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. This has adversely affected their home averages and overall careers.Harbhajan cited Ajinkya Rahane as a prime example, highlighting that his career has been hindered by these challenging surfaces. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, India lost on a Pune turner after managing only 156 and 245 runs, with New Zealand's Mitchell Santner taking 13 wickets.Harbhajan questioned the Indian team's strategy of relying heavily on turners, arguing that it has proven counterproductive. He pointed out that batters have lost confidence playing on these tracks, as they are unable to predict the ball's behavior."Our batters have lost a lot of confidence playing on these tracks. The biggest example is Ajinkya Rahane, a fine player. His career suffered because of these kind of surfaces," Harbhajan emphasized.He further explained that batters lose confidence when they are unsure whether to attack or defend on pitches where the ball turns excessively. This has led to a decline in their performance, even in overseas matches where the conditions are more favorable.Harbhajan also criticized the Indian team management's preference for bowlers who are accurate but lack the ability to turn the ball on flat decks. He suggested that bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who possess exceptional spin skills, should be utilized more effectively.Despite the challenges, Harbhajan believes that India has the talent to produce replacements for its aging players. He emphasized the importance of providing opportunities to young players at the right time, citing the examples of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."The game will move on and we will get replacements," Harbhajan asserted. "It is about getting right opportunities at right time."However, he acknowledged that the upcoming Australia series and the World Test Championship final will be crucial for many players in the team.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is fast approaching, and the future of Mumbai Indians (MI) legend Rohit Sharma with the franchise remains uncertain. With the BCCI allowing teams to retain up to six players, including Right-To-Match (RTM), tough decisions lie ahead for MI.Rohit's retention status is unclear, with speculation rife that the six-time IPL winner could enter the upcoming mega auction. Last season, MI sacked Rohit as captain, appointing Hardik Pandya in his place. The decision to remove Rohit as captain was met with criticism from fans, and MI ultimately finished last in the 10-team points table.Amid the ongoing discussions, former India and MI spinner Harbhajan Singh has weighed in on the possibility of Rohit entering the IPL auction. Harbhajan believes it would be "fascinating" to see how many teams bid for Rohit if he does enter the auction."It will be interesting to see whether he will be retained or not. If he goes into the auction pool, it will be fascinating to see which team bids for him. I'm sure many teams must be thinking along those lines," Harbhajan said.Harbhajan also praised Rohit's leadership qualities and batting prowess, emphasizing that the 37-year-old can still command a lucrative contract if he enters the auction."Rohit Sharma, as a leader and a player, is amazing. He's a top-quality player, top-quality captain, and leader. He's a proven match-winner. Even at 37, he still has a lot of cricket left in him. If Rohit enters the auction, he will fetch big bucks. It will be exciting to see the auction unfold," he added.IPL franchises can now retain six players from their existing squad, either through retention or RTM. The combination of retentions and RTMs can include a maximum of five capped players (Indian and overseas) and two uncapped players.