Harbhajan Singh - the 'Turbanator' is back - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
What was one view at the Premadasa Stadium on a humid Sunday Night however, was nothing new from Harbhajan’s point of view. He is probably the least hyped bowler in terms of his ability to single handedly win games for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 from precarious situations. One
can think of the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harbhajan-Singh-c61453 in terms of his statistics and track record alone, he is definitely no ordinary spinner. What he is
known for is his ability to complement the efforts of the batsmen in a way that no bowler would or could do in the Indian attack. Indian skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 is certainly pleased to have him in the side, or in contention for the next few games, as
throwing the ball to Harbhajan is mostly a good bet. He is a partnership breaker and a man who could stifle the run flow of some of the most powerful opposition batting line ups in the world. He varies his pace beautifully too, where his flight is hard to
score off, and often leads to top edges being pouched by fielders in the inner ring. The ‘doosra’ is in his armory as well, where the ball is known to kick off and turn the other way after pitching on a disconcerting length. Yet the delivery that Harbhajan
will possibly be known for whenever he retires in the near future would be the quicker one that he deploys with great effect. The ball tends to hurry onto the batsmen and gives no time for the striker to react. This stock delivery has been difficult to handle,
and most batsmen fail to read it, as watching Harbhajan’s bowling action from a distance becomes a mesmerizing experience. Such thunderbolts are considered to be unwarranted by India’s opposition.
The wickets in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20, are tailor made for good stroke play, yet retain that element of uncertainty in regard to spinners, where certain tracks such as Pallekele offer little or no turn. There is lateral movement however
for the seamers, as previous games have shown how bowlers which are willing to bend their back and bowl in the corridor of uncertainty have been rewarded. In light of this, Harbhajan’s performance in Sunday’s game and his ability to make the ball turn prodigiously
on a wicket which has favored the seamers in the recent past makes his impact on India’s ICC World T20 campaign more than significant to say the least. He is indispensable in terms of making the ball talk, and like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BAW-Mendis-c1127
of Sri Lanka, he is one of the few finger spinners that are left in contemporary times. It is plausible to assume that he could well and truly spin India into the finals, if the going gets tough for them. His experience, and his ‘veteran’ like status is the
ideal foil for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Ashwin-c2228, where the latter is considered to be India’s best bowler in modern times.
Whether he disappoints or entertains, it is great to have ‘Bhajji’ back in the Indian side. His wry smile and humbleness was well received in the presentation ceremony the other night, but for India’s oppositions, his inclusion signals ominous signs for
the near future.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: