Harbhajan Reflects on the Intensity of Competing Against Australia
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New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) As the second Test against Australia draws near, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh reflected on his experiences facing the Australian team, emphasizing that the fierce competition necessitated extra effort on the field.
Following the well-known Ashes rivalry in red-ball cricket, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become increasingly popular among cricket enthusiasts, with India maintaining an unbeaten record in the series since 2016.
“It was our responsibility. We aimed to win against Australia. Competing against a top-tier team like Australia helps you understand your own abilities, and Australia was a formidable opponent. They were the leading team globally. To gauge your skills, you must face the best, and that’s what we did. We persevered and remained focused. Whenever we faced Australia, we had to put in that extra effort because they were such a strong team,” Harbhajan shared on Star Sports’ “Time-out”.
This seasoned spinner, who has participated in numerous Test series against Australia, significantly contributed to the rivalry by becoming the first Indian bowler to achieve a hat-trick in red-ball cricket, accomplishing this against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001. He took down Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Shane Warne with three consecutive deliveries, securing his place in cricket history.
When questioned about his off-field relationships with Australian players and whether any rivalries from on-field encounters persist, Harbhajan remarked, “No, those memories are limited to the pitch. Nowadays, I meet Matthew Hayden as if he is my long-lost brother. We collaborate in broadcasting, working for the same production house, Star Sports. Therefore, all those past tensions have subsided. Those memories belong to the field. In the IPL, when you share a dressing room, you get to know each other better.
“I realized that, like us, they also put in considerable effort for their team. They strive to secure victories for their country. In that context, everything is justified. As they say, in love and war, all is fair. Thus, when on the field, everything is permissible. However, these sentiments should not extend beyond the game. Those intense glares should be reserved solely for the pitch,” he added.
Indian pacer Ishant Sharma also expressed his views on competing against Australia, revealing his philosophy of maintaining simplicity.
“Typically, we aimed to perform our best; when facing a dominant team in world cricket, additional effort is essential. When I visited for the first time, I was quite naive. I simply bowled without much strategy. Back then, we were not very knowledgeable. I focused on executing the basics,” he stated.
