India have been hit back hard by Australia who levelled the five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy at 1-1 with a thumping 10-wicket win in the second Test at Adelaide. As the visitors reel under the heavy defeat, they hope to bounce back in the next match at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Analysing what led to India’s defeat in the pink-ball Test after starting the series with a rousing 295-run triumph in Perth, former India off-spinner suggested his three-point formula.
ALSO WATCH
This Virat Kohli is like Sachin Tendulkar of 2011-13
“The first and the most important thing is that they have to bat well,” said Harbhajan, who has been part of many memorable battles against Australia during his 103-Test career.
Three of India’s four innings so far folded up for less than 200. The visitors scored 150 & 487/6 in Perth and 180 & 175 in Adelaide.
“One area where India would like to improve is the partnership. Focus on taking a partnership to 30-40 runs and then after you create that opportunity, build on it, like we saw in Perth. That one partnership won us the match…India must score 300-350 runs in the first innings,” Harbhajan added.
The former offspinner was pointing at the 201-run stand between openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings at Perth, which laid the foundation of India’s big win.
Rohit Sharma’s struggle continues
Having said that, only two Indian batters have scored a century so far, with Jaiswal and Virat Kohli making 161 and 100 not out respectively in Perth. Rahul has given a good account of himself as an opener, but hasn’t been able to convert any of his knocks into a big innings, with a highest of 77.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been impressive with the bat lower down the order, making crucial contributions in both the Tests with an attacking intent. His 163 runs are the third highest in the series so far, behind Jaiswal, who has produced 185 runs and the table-topper Travis Head with 240 runs.
“Second thing, plan well in bowling,” Harbjajan continued. “Travis Head ne sirr dard kar ke rakha hua hai (he has been a headache). We have seen that he wants to score in the point and cover regions, so we should force him to play straight. Pitch the ball up a little and let him score on the leg-stump side. And also bowl bouncers, because he doesn’t play that well.”
India’s over dependence on Jasprit Bumrah visible in Adelaide
India are yet to find an answer to Head’s attacking intent.
After his 101-ball 89 in a losing cause at Perth, Head continued to torment India and produced a game-changing knock of 140 off 141 balls in Adelaide to put his team in the box seat. He had also scored a hundred each in the ODI World Cup final and the World Test Championship final last year to help the Aussies beat India.
Harbhajan, thus, advocated for a change in India’s bowling line-up for Brisbane, advising the team’s management to include Prasidh Krishna or Akash Deep in the eleven, replacing Harshit Rana.
“Third thing, one change that I can see is bringing in Prasidh Krishna or Akash Deep in place of Harshit. I am not saying that Harshit has performed badly, but as a change, I think it will work better because the Brisbane pitch is fast and bouncy and pacers take a lot of wickets there. I feel Prasidh has that bounce and he can succeed there,” the 44-year-old Harbhajan analysed.
