NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has voiced concerns over the Indian cricket team’s recent struggles in red-ball and ODI formats, following their T20 World Cup win in Barbados under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan called for a shift in selection priorities, urging the management to focus on form and performance rather than reputation.
Pointing to the Downfall
“Everything was fine under Rahul Dravid. India won the World Cup, and things looked great. But what happened after that?” Harbhajan questioned, attributing the decline to the coaching transition under Gautam Gambhir. While the team continues to dominate T20Is, Harbhajan highlighted troubling performances in Tests and ODIs, including:
- A historic Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand.
- A 3-1 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, marking Australia’s first series win in India in a decade.
Key Players Underperforming
Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have faced criticism for their poor outings during the Australia series. Kohli scored just 190 runs at an average of 23.75, while Rohit managed only 31 runs across three Tests.
Missed Opportunities for Young Talent
Harbhajan criticized the lack of game time for promising players like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan. “You take them on tours but don’t let them play. How can they grow into match-winners for India without opportunities?” he asked.
Call for Reform
Harbhajan emphasized the need to end the “superstar attitude” in Indian cricket and make performance-based selections. With no Test matches scheduled before the England tour in seven months, he believes this is a crucial period for introspection and rebuilding.
“The ball is in the selectors’ court. They need to make bold decisions to steer Indian cricket back on track,” Harbhajan concluded.
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