In a recent analysis of India's struggles against New Zealand's spinners, former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed deep concern about the current form of Indian batters, particularly in the context of their recent loss to New Zealand. This marked India’s first home Test series defeat against New Zealand in 12 years, and Harbhajan pointed to the adverse effects of consistently playing on spin-friendly pitches, which he believes have dented the confidence of Indian batters over time.
The match in Pune saw India failing to adapt effectively, managing only 156 and 245 runs in their innings while New Zealand's lead spinner, Mitchell Santner, decimated the batting lineup with an impressive 13-wicket haul. Harbhajan emphasized the impact of such a loss on players who have historically performed well at home, stating, "If you have had a great record at home for so long and if you lose, obviously there will be chatter. Credit to New Zealand for playing the way they did; these were alien conditions and also not a pitch where wear and tear was natural."
He further elaborated on the approach of the Indian team, critiquing the strategic reliance on turners that have increasingly characterized their home matches. "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. But we don't know if we have the batting to wriggle out on turners," he stated, pinpointing Ajinkya Rahane's declining form as a prime example of how such surfaces can hinder the careers of talented players.
The former cricketer articulated his views on how the challenging conditions affect a batter's mindset, noting, "We always get into whataboutery that they (SENA countries) also prepare pitches as per their needs, but those aren't pitches where you can't even bat. Those pitches go through natural wear and tear over time." He contrasted this with the uncertainty that players face on Indian tracks where the ball's behavior is unpredictable, leading to self-doubt and indecision on whether to attack or defend.
Harbhajan also expressed skepticism about the Indian selectors' decision-making, questioning the long-term implications of sending players who haven't scored runs in challenging home conditions on overseas tours. He argued that a lack of recent form could severely impact their performance abroad, leading to a cycle of failure that results in players being dropped from the team.
With a touch of sarcasm, Harbhajan criticized the trend of preparing "result-oriented pitches" in India. He argued that by creating such challenging conditions, the team inadvertently limits the exposure and development of spinners who could thrive on flatter surfaces. "If you prepare rank turners, you don't play spinners who can turn the ball on the flattest of decks. All you need are bowlers who are accurate. Washy (Washington Sundar) and Axar (Patel) can do the job, and you won't need the quality of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja," he remarked.
In his closing comments, Harbhajan alluded to instances where batsmen from other teams have performed well on Indian pitches, like Joe Root's five-wicket haul in a previous series. He suggested that the Indian team management could benefit from being more open-minded about their approach, even considering players like Varun Chakravarthy, who is primarily known as a white-ball specialist, as valuable additions to the bowling lineup.
Overall, Harbhajan Singh’s candid remarks reflect a broader concern regarding the long-term impact of India's pitch preparation strategies and the implications for player development, confidence, and overall team performance. As India continues to grapple with its batting form, especially against quality spin attacks, it remains to be seen how these insights will influence future strategies and selections.
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