Competition brings the best and worst in people. The current off-spinners of the Indian Test team — R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh — are no different. Both of them have played significant in Indian team’s fortunate and once again come face-to-face against each other, as relatively new Test captain Virat Kohli and his Indian cricket team get ready to play a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Fatullah.
In last three years or so, Harbhajan hasn’t been a regular member with the Indian team due to lacklustre form. But that didn’t dampen his spirit to stage a comeback. Similarly, Ashwin never felt threatened after keeping Harbhajan out of the team and while fitting into his shoes. They both bowled for India with an indomitable spirit. So, their followers will not settle for anything less than match-winning performances against Bangladesh.
Whether India will play two off-spinners or not is still to be decided by the team management, but a bowling combo of both Harbhajan and Ashwin in the playing XI can be lethal. They create doubts in the opponent’s mind. With a plenty of left-headers in the Bangladesh team, the Indian Test captain Virat Kohli will also be tempted to play two quality off-spinners.
More than two years ago, Ashwin and Harbhajan had played together in a Test match involving Australia. Incidentally, India had won that match against the Aussies by an innings and 135 runs in Hyderabad. In the first essay, Harbhajan had emerged as a better bowler than Ashwin.
But in the second innings, it was Ashwin who led from the front and completely destroyed Australia. However, after that Test match win, Harbhajan was left out in the cold. But his persistent hard work in Indian domestic cricket paid off. The selectors, finally, decided to fall back on his experience to tackle the Bangladesh batsmen.
And as far as Ashwin is concerned, he has come out as one of the most unfortunate bowlers in recent past. In most of the Test matches that he has played, the lanky spinner has bowled exceedingly well but didn’t get that many wickets to show his real self. He created opportunity for the team, but there wasn’t anyone to support him from the other end.
In a way, this Test series against Bangladesh is yet another opportunity for both Ashwin and Harbhajan to come out as a team. They also have to compete against each other and if they are given opportunities to play together, this series a stepping stone to form a potent spin combo for India. They might be the same kind of a bowler, but they have contrasting styles to bring in variety!
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