Harbhajan Singh: Transition in Indian Cricket Inevitable, Replacements Will Emerge
Former 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.
