Published: Jun 24, 2011, 12:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 21, 2014, 07:34 PM (IST)
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
A few years ago it would have been hard to imagine a feature being written about Harbhajan Singh’s batting. However, his performances over the last year have indicated that the “Turbanator” has become the “Terminator” at No 8. Cricket fans never doubted Harbhajan’s ability with the bat, but one always felt that he was the kind of a player who would only play his shots and not try to hang around in the middle. His recent showing with the bat just proves that if he gets his eye in, bats sensibly then he can be a real tough nut to crack.
If Indian fans are asked to enlist the factors that led to their team bagging the No 1 spot in Test cricket, they would mention quite a few things such as a strong opening combination, a formidable middle order, a cool captain, good spinners and one of the best fast bowlers in the world. However, one must not forget some of the vital contributions Harbhajan has made with the bat when it mattered most. He may not have done it as consistently as he would have liked, but nevertheless some of his scores have been vital in saving or winning Test matches.
We should go back to January 2008 to the infamous Sydney Test between India and Australia. The “Monkeygate” incident overshadowed a fantastic partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan. As Tendulkar elegantly piled the runs, Harbhajan gave him the much-needed support by scoring 63 to help India gain the first innings lead. This was the first time one saw Harbhajan bringing caution to batting as he faced 92 deliveries and stroked eight boundaries. Although Australia won that match under controversial circumstances, on hindsight that was the start of Harbhajan’s utility as a lower-order batsman. He followed this up with an identical score in his next Test match.
When Australia toured India in late 2008, Harbhajan stroked two fifties which were very crucial to the result of the series. In the first Test, India were 195 for six in the first innings after Australia scored 430. Harbhajan walked out to bat and along with Zaheer Khan frustrated the Aussies as both scored fifties. Although Australia took the lead, they couldn’t press on the advantage in the fourth innings as India comfortably saved the game. Had Harbhajan and Zaheer not played those innings, the Australians might have started their tour with a win and the complexion of the series may have been different.
In the fourth Test of the same series, India needed to set Australia a big target in the fourth innings. At 166 for six, it looked like the Aussies would claw their way back, but Harbhajan gave Mahendra Singh Dhoni good support to set up a target of 382. His 52 was vital as Australia were not able to chase the target and India took the series 2-0. Dhoni’s captaincy, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar’s good scores and Ishant Sharma’s bowling was in the limelight, but Harbhajan’s contributions with the bat were as valuable.
In effect, this was the point from where Harbhajan started taking his batting more seriously and evolved into a valuable asset down the order. After these performances we have seen knocks such as the two hundreds and his most recent 70 against West Indies which just shows that he can be expected to score. His first Test hundred – against New Zealand late last year – should be considered his best knock ever. He walked in to bat with India reeling at 65 for six in the second innings and in danger of losing the Test match. As VVS Laxman went about his business in a calm fashion, Harbhajan played a sensible knock to save India the blushes. His celebration after getting his hundred won’t be forgotten by Indian fans for a long time.
It is not just his fifties or hundreds which were vital but also some of his 20s, 30s and 40s have also been crucial to the result. Some of these knocks changed the momentum of the game. Some batsmen have the knack of batting with the tail and guiding the innings in company of the tailenders, but Harbhajan should be lauded for the way he can combine with the top order to give them valuable support. Here is a tail-ender who has a knack of batting with any top order batsman.
Harbhajan is doing well with the bat, but his primary job is bowling. Whatever runs he gets are bonus, however crucial they may be. At the end of the day, he needs to stamp his authority with the ball. Off late, his consistency with the ball has dropped and that is something he seriously needs to rectify. That is absolutely vital for his survival in the Indian team.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya, a 20-year-old law student, is a club and college-level cricketer. His teachers always complain, “He knows the stats and facts of cricket more than the subjects we teach him.”)
