'His Career Suffered Because Of These Surfaces': Harbhajan Slams Indian Pitches After NZ Series Loss

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has lambasted Indian team's approach to preparing pitches for home Tests, citing recent series loss to New Zealand as an example. He believes that emphasis on turners has backfired and affected confidence of Indian batters.

Also Re: 'Cannot Be Underestimated': Coach McDonald Fires Grave Warning To AUS After India Reveals BGT Squ

Harbhajan Singh blames turning pitches for Test series loss

Harbhajan Singh pointed out that trend of playing on turners has been counter-productive, as Indian batters have struggled to apt to different conditions. He cited Ajinkya Rahane's career as an example, stating that player's confidence has suffered due to se surfaces.

"If you have h great record at home for so long and if you lose, obviously re will be chatter. Credit to New Zealand for playing way y did and se were alien conditions and also not a pitch where wear and tear was natural.

"It was a tailor-me condition for spinners where ball was supposed to turn from first hour," Harbhajan told PTI in an interaction.

A straight shooter, Harbhajan questioned thought process of Indian team, which is proving to be counter-productive.

"Look at trend during last deces. We are playing mostly on turners through last dece with hope that we will win toss, score 300 and control game.

"But we don't know if we are at receiving end, if we have batting to wriggle out on turners. Our batters have lost a lot of confidence playing on se tracks. biggest example is Ajinkya Rahane, a fine player. His career suffered because of se kind of surfaces," Harbhajan was cut-throat in his assessment.

One of country's finest off-spinners, he elaborated how batters lose confidence.

"We always get into whataboutery that y (SENA countries) also prepare pitches as per ir needs but those aren't pitches where you can't even bat. Those pitches go through natural wear and tear over time.

"Here if you don't know which one will turn and which one will go straight, you are forever fighting doubts wher to attack or defend. Even Virat Kohli has fared well abro in last few years where ball comes onto bat.

"Now you have three b home Tests on se tracks but selectors know that you are a good player and take you on overseas tour, but by n, not having runs under your belt has started playing havoc with your mindset.

Also Re: No More Zimbabar! PCB Humiliate Babar Azam , Remove Batter From Zimbabwe Squ

"You also fail in a couple of overseas Tests, and suddenly, you are out of team. Is that a good thing?" 'Turbanator' asked.

Harbhajan couldn't hide his sarcasm when he spoke about kind of result-oriented pitches that Indian team management in past few years have gone for.

"If you prepare rank turners, you don't play spinners who can turn ball on flattest of decks. All you need is bowlers who are accurate. Washy (Washington Sundar) and Axar (Patel) can do job, and you won't need Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jeja's quality.

"You h Joe Root getting five wickets here some years back. Bring Varun Chakravarthy, who is a white-ball specialist. He will run through sides," Harabhajan said.