‘Give me some credit for knowing how to spin a ball’

A game-changer in his own right, mercurial off-spinner Harbhajain Singh says India is a team full of match-winners and even less-talked-about players such as Ashish Nehra would be seen turning around games in the upcoming World Cup in the sub-continent.

“Good thing is, everyone in this team has won matches for us in recent times. So India is in business even with its last men,” remarked Harbhajan.

Harbhajan cites the example of Ashish Nehra who remains most underrated in the eyes of the critics. “Ashish shares the new ball, bowls in middle overs and is economical even in slog overs. He has picked up 59 wickets in the last two years in ODIs and it’s no joke. His wicket of AB de Villiers in Johannesburg turned the tide in our favour. Yet nobody talks about him,” he explained.

Harbhajan actually sees such ignorance and indifference on the part of critics as advantage to India for it keeps lesser-known forces of India in prime shape.

“Personally for me, the high is to turn out in Indian jersey. That some critics have made a career out of criticising me doesn’t upset me now,” said Harbhajan

“These purists don’t realise that flighting the ball isn’t such a clever idea now. You have men like AB de Villiers, Mahela Jayawardene and Younis Khan who would send a flighted delivery soaring into the orbit.

“You need to plan against batsmen, tailor yourself to situations and conditions. You need to know why the length on Indian pitches need to be fuller, why a little short of length on foreign pitches can aid your bounce.

“Give me some credit for knowing how to spin a ball. I am nearing 400 Test wickets,” he said.