Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh offers insights on India’s T20 World Cup prospects, emphasizing the role of skipper Rohit Sharma. Harbhajan Singh also highlights the potential impact of IPL fatigue on the team’s performance, urging caution.
Harbhajan Singh, one of India’s most successful spinners, played a crucial role in India’s triumph in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. With his vast experience and exceptional skills, Harbhajan has left an indelible mark on the game. Over his career, he has taken 269 wickets in 103 Test matches, 265 wickets in 236 ODIs, and 25 wickets in 28 T20Is. Known for his sharp turn and ability to bowl in pressure situations, Harbhajan has been a key player in many of India’s memorable victories.
What Harbhajan Singh Said
The Indian team’s prospects at the T20 World Cup have sparked considerable debate. The latest to weigh in is former World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh, who believes India can replicate their successful 2007 campaign under MS Dhoni.
In a recent interview, Harbhajan expressed confidence that current skipper Rohit Sharma can emulate Dhoni’s 2007 triumph, provided the team performs cohesively in the Americas.
He said,
“Rohit Sharma alone can’t win the cup, it is about we and not me. The more we play like ‘we’, you can achieve anything,”
Harbhajan remained candid, explaining how the exhausting nature of the IPL could impact the Indian team’s chances at the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin in June in the Americas. He stressed that fatigue from playing in the cash-rich league could be a significant factor.
“IPL is a tiring tournament, travel is very tiring. The players will be physically and mentally a bit tired but they need to look at it is an extended part of IPL,”
“There is nothing bigger than World Cup, you need to give your best, you have to be switched on the given day. You have to bowl well, bat well and field well,”
“Winning a world cup is not going to be easy, you have to be mentally strong.” the former Indian cricketer added.
Another major topic of discussion has been the new pitches being prepared in North America for the World Cup. However, Harbhajan refrained from speculating about the conditions of these pitches.
“Pitches nobody knows, how long they will last. Practice matches will give an idea about team combinations,” he said.
Adding to Harbhajan’s sentiments was his 2007 T20 World Cup-winning teammate Sreesanth, who also shared his thoughts on India’s proposed line-up for the upcoming tournament. Sreesanth stated,
“Two spinners is our strength. Hardik (Pandya) as third seamer, and two fast bowlers. India has a very strong batting line-up.”