Harbhajan Singh has passionately weighed in on India’s Test series strategy, emphasizing the pivotal choice between Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul thakur for the opener against South Africa in Centurion. Despite defending the call to field Shardul in the WTC final, Harbhajan underscores the unique demands of Centurion’s bouncy track, urging for the inclusion of both Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan acknowledges the merit of selecting Shardul in the WTC final due to seam-friendly conditions at the Oval. However, he asserts a shift in approach is essential for the South Africa Test, anticipating challenging conditions with heat and bounce, favoring Ashwin as a strategic choice.
While Harbhajan leans towards Ashwin, he pragmatically admits the potential continuation of Shardul’s role. Offering his forecasted playing XI, he envisions Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening, Shubman Gill at three, and Virat Kohli at four. The crux of the debate centers on the eighth spot, where Harbhajan contends for Ashwin’s inclusion, providing a balanced mix of spin and pace with Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna rounding off the lineup.
Harbhajan suggests a strategic move for India in the Test series opener against South Africa at Centurion, emphasizing the need for two spinners, especially with the conditions favoring bounce and the South African batters’ proficiency against fast bowlers. He proposes Ashwin as the second spinner alongside Ravindra Jadeja, highlighting the advantage of playing to India’s strengths in the anticipated hot and hard pitch conditions. Despite his recommendation, Harbhajan acknowledges the likelihood of this lineup not being adopted by the team.
