Harbhajan Singh has slammed the Indian team selection criteria given the long rope senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have received despite poor performances. This comes after both the senior players’ poor outings caused India to lose the BGT 2024 Test series 1-3.
Concerns were raised regarding the two contemporary titans' place in the Test team after the world witnessed them stumble when the team most needed them.
In eight innings, Kohli only scored 190 runs at an average of 23.75. This was after his unbeaten century in the Perth Test. Kohli repeatedly got out poking at balls outside off stump, and he was dismissed four times by Scott Boland. On the other hand, Rohit managed to score 31 runs in the series' three Test matches.
Harbhajan recommended management choose players based on their performance. If selectors decide to just utilize senior players for the upcoming Test tour in England, the former spinner suggests senior players play county cricket before the series.
"The selection should be based on the performance, whether Virat or Rohit. No player is bigger than the game, even if they think they are superstars in their minds. If you want to take senior players on tour, you have to make sure they play county cricket before the England series," Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
Furthermore, Harbhajan launched a scathing attack on the Indian management for the team's selection during the series, pushing them to select players for the England Test tour based on performance rather than stature.
Concerns were raised over India's lineup selection for the series' final Test in Sydney following the initial look at the surface. Grass blanketed the entire SCG strip. There was nothing for spinners and enough for pacers, even when the cracks appeared.
India elected to include two spinners in its playing XI on such a surface, citing Sydney's history. When Jasprit Bumrah developed back pain and was unable to do his duties with the ball, the decision came under fire.
Prasidh Krishna, in his first Test of the series, and Mohammed Siraj carried the whole weight of defending the modest 162-run lead.
"How was selection done? Was there any point in playing two spinners in Sydney on this pitch where they didn't even bowl? So, to extend your batting, you added spinners because they can bat. But you didn't see if there was another good seamer, things could have been better. They are stuck to stubbornness. This is not the T20 format. Test cricket is played differently," he added.
In addition to praising Bumrah, Harbhajan claimed that India would have lost the BGT to Australia by 5-0 or 4-0 if the "national treasure" had not been on the squad.
"If Jasprit Bumrah wasn't in this tour, the series would have ended 5-0. Jassi saved India in Perth. After Adelaide, he saved India in the rest of the matches. If he wasn't in the series, India would have lost by either 5-0 or 4-0," Harbhajan said.
(Times of India inputs)
