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.
