Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that Indian captain Virat Kohli could have managed his bowlers a little better in the second One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series on Sunday (November 29) after the tourists suffered a 2-0 series loss to Australia in Sydney.
However, Indian bowlers – both pacers and spinners – have been struggling to trouble Australians and take early wickets in the ongoing three-match ODI series, resulting in their batters have been putting a mountain of runs against the Men in Blue and won the series in a style for the hosts.
After leaking 374 in the first ODI, Indian bowlers ended up conceding 389 runs in the second ODI on Sunday – the highest ODI score by Australia in the 50-over format. Now, both teams will face each other in the final ODI of the series on the 2nd of December at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
With Team India’s key bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami facing horrific time in Australia, the Indian bowling attack looked helpless against the Australian batsmen whether be it Steve Smith, David Warner or Aaron Finch, and Glenn Maxwell, as Men in Blue’s struggle continues in ODI cricket.
After seeing India’s horrific time in Australia, Harbhajan has pointed out that the tourists have not been able to utilize one of the biggest weapons “new ball” against the Australian batters and said they “must try and figure out how to use it” as they have already suffered their consecutive ODI series loss – now in Australia after ODI series defeat in their last tour of New Zealand.
Harbhajan said on India Today TV: “New ball is a very good weapon and India will have to find a way to use it in these Australian conditions. Virat could have managed the bowlers a little better.”
He further added, “When Shami was bowling better, he could have stuck to him for longer, and tried to set up a tighter field to build pressure. We know Bumrah is a match-winner and someone who can pick wickets early on, but unfortunately, he has not been able to do it in the tour.”
India’s World Cup 2011 winner also opined that Bumrah, Shami and Navdeep Saini need to figure out a way to swing the new ball and make the most of the new ball to trouble Australian batters in Australia.
He further explained, “Swing is something that is lacking for him (Bumrah). If you can swing the ball even for the first 2-3 overs, you create a lot of doubt in the minds of the batsman. There is assistance for the fast bowlers in Australia and our pacers need to find a way to utilize it.”
Harbhajan Signed off by saying, “Bumrah, Shami, and even Saini need to find a way to swing the ball and make the new ball count and that is how the game will change in India's favor.”
