Why is Harbhajan Singh struggling?

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Why is Harbhajan Singh struggling?

NEW DELHI: Bowlers win matches is an old cricketing adage. This is even more true for Test matches. While India's rise to No.1 in Test rankings Day in Pics: February 10 was mainly facilitated by a formidable batting line-up, the bowlers too played a key role there. Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan led the bowling cast with distinction over the last decade. However, after Kumble retired in 2008, the burden had to be primarily shared by Zaheer and Harbhajan with active support from the likes of Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra. Zaheer has been manfully carrying on although he is not getting any younger. In Harbhajan's case, though, an impression has gained ground that, lately, he has been losing his efficacy as a matchwinner, something which doesn't augur well for India because there aren't many strike bowlers available. The shattering defeat to South Africa in the Nagpur Test has once again brought into focus the performance on India's premier spinner. Has he really lost his bite or has he been sorted out by international batsmen? Is he also a case of burn-out with too much cricket? Has he lost sting after Kumble's retirement because the two often hunted as a pair? Spin great Bishen Singh Bedi, as well as Maninder Singh, former India tweaker, felt that Harbhajan has been unable to early wickets, important for a strike bowler. However, Kumble, Harbhajan's 'partner-in-crime' for many years, came to his defence, saying, "You can't expect Harbhajan to take five wickets in every innings. But I am confident that if he gets some early wickets, he will be a different bowler. It's only a matter of confidence. Everyone goes through a difficult phase and but you need to be patient at this level. Kolkata has been a favourite ground for Harbhajan and I am confident he is going to get back to his old way of picking wickets," Kumble said. Kolkata's Eden Gardens will host the second Test against South Africa from Feb 14, a game India must win to retain their No. 1 ranking. The former Indian captain also dismissed the argument that now that he has retired, the offie was getting exposed. "He is a class bowler. He is experienced." Stats show that Harbhajan's performance has suffered a bit in Kumble's absence. In the 11 Tests after Kumble's retirement, Harbhajan has taken 48 wickets at an average of 33.37. But the worrying fact is that he has only one five-wicket haul in this period, the true yardstick of a matchwinning bowler. In comparison, when Harbhajan used to bowl in tandem with Kumble, he had 22 five-wicket hauls in 71 Tests. "I think it's about the mindset. He wants to restrict the other side from scoring. He is waiting for the wickets to come by. He is hesitant to put pressure on the opposition. He has the class but he has to apply pressure on the minds of the batsmen. An attacking field is the best way to make the batsmen think differently, which he is not doing too often," Maninder said. Bedi, meanwhile, blamed Twenty20 cricket for the 'declining quality' of Indian spinners. "T20 is affecting cricket very badly. The bowlers try to bowl dot balls which is bad for the game. Harbhajan often has a sweeper cover and a deep mid-wicket when he's bowling. That is because he knows if he's bowling badly and the fielders are there to save those boundaries. By doing this, you are blocking two fielders," Bedi added. Great off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna agreed that all was not well with Harbhajan's bowling. "I will tell Harbhajan what is wrong with his bowling when he talks to me. I don't want to discuss this issue with the media," Prasanna said. Bedi questioned: "Why do you need to bowl round the stump on a turning pitch? You can vary your line according to the need of the situation, but good length is mandatory and Harbhajan has to understand it. Clearly, there is a lack of imagination in the bowling. He looks jaded and his body language doesn't inspire the team. To be successful, you have to outwit the batsmen." Maninder felt that Harbhajan was not using the crease well. "You can make out from his footmarks that Harbhanjan bowls from one spot without using the depth of the crease. On a good pitch, he has to vary his line and length to take wickets. On a turning track or underprepared pitch, he will get wickets. However, on good pitches, he will struggle." What also might be working against Harbhajan is that there is no one in the country to challenge him for the India slot. Thus, Harbhajan needs to challenge, and better himself. India need him to do that.