Spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi says India offie Harbhajan singh is not attacking enough ufffd being content with dot balls rather than going for wickets
Spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi says India offie Harbhajan singh is not attacking enough ufffd being content with dot balls rather than going for wickets
Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi reckons off-spinner Harbhajan Singh should bowl with a more attacking frame of mind in India's World Cup games.
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India's premier spinner conceded just 29 runs in his nine overs of which one was a maiden, but didn't get a wicket. The bowling honours went to part-time left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh, who bagged five for 31.
"Harbhajan is not attacking enough. I get the feeling he is striving for dot balls rather than aiming to get wickets. Remember, attack is the best form of defence," Bedi said after India's scratchy five-wicket win over Ireland on Sunday. "For a player who has been playing for India since 1998, he has a poor record in one-day cricket ufffd 248 wickets in 220 games. In comparison, Zaheer Khan has a better record (260 wickets in 185 ODIs from 2000)."
However, Harbhajan has enough of class to come into his own against Netherlands tomorrow at the Kotla which is no graveyard for spin bowlers.
Bedi was disappointed with India's overall show on Sunday. "Firstly, I thought Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to field first was a defensive move. Logic dictates that you win the toss, put up a big score and set your opponents a target for your bowlers to have a go. His decision to allow Ireland to bat first was a poor one and it is here that the tactical acumen of a captain shows up," said Bedi, who figured in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups. The Sardar of Spin was on the national selection panel that picked the 1983 World Cup-winning team.
Bedi said Dhoni must play five bowlers and sacrifice a batsman, but was convinced that the India skipper would not embrace that strategy. About the fielding, Bedi said: "What I noticed was when the Indian batsmen hit the ball, it invariably went to the Irish fielders. When the Ireland batsmen hit the ball, it went through our fielders. And the Irishmen are amateurs!"
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