New Delhi: Former spinner Harbhajan Singh believes there is enough quality and depth in Indian cricket to replace star players of the Indian team.
India have lost two consecutive Test matches to New Zealand to lose a home series for the first time in 12 years.
In those defeats, India’s star batters skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, apart from premier spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were a pale shadow of themselves.
India suffered batting collapses in both the defeats in Bengaluru and Pune while bowlers didn’t provide breakthroughs at crucial phases of the game.
It has led to criticism of these big players who are at the sunset years of their careers. Their struggles have been exemplified by the dry patch of Rohit, who manages only 60 runs in the two Tests while Kohli managed 88 runs in the four innings.
People have suggested that India should begin a period of transition with fresh batting talents and bowlers being included in the team, keeping an eye in the future.
Singh witnessed such a transition from close quarters between 2011-2013 when the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman retired and him, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and current head coach Gautam Gambhir were phased out.
“Look age is a factor for some in this team but then Virat and Jaddu are extremely fit guys. 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. It happened in that phase,” Singh told PTI.
‘No immediate transition’
Though many believe that the time has still not arrive to drop Rohot and Kohli, particularly from Tests as they still are big names though Singh said no one is irreplacable in the team.
“Kaun kehta hai bharpai naahi hoti. Bharpai bilkul hoti hai. Gavaskar saab gaye, Tendulkar saab aaye, Tendulkar saab gaye, humein Kohli mila aur bhavishya mein bhi aisa hoga. (Who says you can’t get replacements? You got replacements in past and you will get in future). The game will move on and we will get replacements,” he said.
“Are there enough talents in domestic cricket? Of course there’s talent in domestic cricket. How did you get Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and now Sarfaraz Khan. It is from domestic cricket only. It is about getting right opportunities at right time.
“If you get chance at right time, you can become Virat Kohli or else you could be Amol Mujumdar or Amarjeet Kaypee,” said the former off-spinner.
Singh though doesn’t see the tranisition happening immediately, as India are set to against Australia in an away series with the WTC final at stake.
“Not immediately, as you have a big Australia series and WTC final at stake. But yes, this Australia series will be a make or break for many in the team,” he said.
