Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed confidence that India will manage to salvage a draw in the ongoing Gabba Test, despite being 193 runs behind Australia going into the final day of play. Speaking on Star Sports, Harbhajan emphasized that the Australian pacers, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, might struggle to maintain their intensity after bowling long spells on Day 4, which could play a crucial role in India’s favor.
The Test match saw a significant setback for Australia with the injury of fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who had to leave the field after just one over due to a calf issue. This injury forced Starc and Cummins to shoulder the bulk of the bowling workload. By the end of Day 4, Starc had already bowled 24 overs, while Cummins had delivered 21 overs. Harbhajan pointed out that these extended spells could lead to fatigue, particularly as both pacers have been bowling at high intensity for extended periods.
Harbhajan stated that if India had been forced to follow on, the target of 200 runs would have seemed even more insurmountable. However, with India’s tail-enders, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, showing determination at the crease and playing a valiant 10th-wicket partnership, he believes India’s chances of drawing the match have increased significantly. "If India had been asked to follow on, the deficit would have seemed far larger and the task would have been far more daunting. But now, with Bumrah and Akash Deep still out there, Australia will have to deal with the challenge of making India bat again."
He further explained, "Australia now faces a decision about how long they should bat and whether they can force India to face another innings. The key factor is whether the fast bowlers will have enough strength left in their legs to carry out that plan." Harbhajan highlighted the importance of the Australian bowling attack, pointing out that Starc and Cummins had already bowled extensive spells, and with Hazlewood unavailable, they had little backup. He noted that Nathan Lyon was now the third option, but his impact on a pitch like the one at Gabba could be limited compared to the fast bowlers.
"The absence of Hazlewood is significant. He could have been a major factor on this pitch, but with him gone, Australia’s bowling attack now relies on Starc, Cummins, and Lyon. I don’t think they have the strength or the resources to add another 100-150 runs to their total and make India bat again for two more sessions," Harbhajan explained. He emphasized that the chances of Australia managing to build a sizable lead to put India back in again were slim, considering the fatigue of their bowlers.
Adding another layer of complexity to the final day of the Test match is the weather, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecasted for Day 5. These weather conditions are expected to cause frequent interruptions, leading to a stop-start situation throughout the day. Harbhajan pointed out that the rain could work in India’s favor, as the interruptions would likely reduce the number of overs available for Australia to bat and India to face. The reduced playtime could benefit India’s hopes of securing a draw, particularly with the tailenders still holding strong at the crease.
Harbhajan concluded by expressing confidence in India’s ability to avoid defeat, given the current circumstances. While there is still a possibility of a positive result for Australia, the combination of fatigue among the Australian bowlers and the weather disruptions on the final day make India’s survival highly probable. "With the rain interruptions and the Australian bowlers running out of gas, India’s chances of drawing the match are looking strong. The resilience shown by Bumrah and Akash Deep at the crease has given India a glimmer of hope, and if the rain hampers the play, that could work even more in India’s favor," Harbhajan said.
With the final day’s outcome still uncertain and the weather set to play a pivotal role, it seems that India’s chances of clinching a draw are looking brighter than ever.
