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IPL 2017: Poor Dhoni and what about Harbhajan Singh

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S Kannan
S KannanApr 16, 2017 | 12:25

IPL 2017: Poor Dhoni and what about Harbhajan Singh

The annual jamboree called the Indian Premier League is on in full swing. As the competing teams have begun their long journey, flying from one city to another for their home-and-away matches, there is no one team which looks outstanding at this point of time.

The heat and dust at most venues has been a big factor but as professional cricketers competing in one of the most demanding tournaments, none is complaining. With the MeT forecast predicting harsher weather ahead, this calls for players to be in peak physical shape. It’s understandable for the Indian players to take these conditions in their stride but the overseas players, too, have learnt that to survive in the IPL, one has to be a tough nut.

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In the tenth edition of the IPL, there are a lot of Englishmen also competing. Over the years, the Aussies have played a big part in the IPL but such has been the growth of the tournament, Englishmen are now comfortable in the biggest T20 bash in the sub continent.

Some of the big Indian players have been forced to miss this IPL due to injury and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli is back in the mix. However, a player like R Ashwin is going to be out for the entire duration of the tournament. In Ashwin’s absence, Harbhajan Singh has grabbed the chances which have come his way.

To many, Bhajji is the quintessential veteran who is no longer popular with the national selectors. Playing for Mumbai Indians, Bhajji was dropped for the first match. However, coach Mahela Jayawardene clarified it was not the veteran off spinner being dropped but the team mix was such he missed a match.

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Ashwin was asked to rest after he played remarkably for India in the Test series despite a sports hernia.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bhajji was on fire. He opened the bowling and used his large heart and guile to outfox the left-handers with David Warner becoming his victim. It was a short and brief contest but the Sardar showed he has not lost the stomach for a fight. With 121 wicket in the IPL till now, including two this season, he is a dependable bowler.

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Stats point out that Harbhajan is quite useful with the bat as well in the IPL but given the current dynamics, he could even be in the reckoning for a slot in the Indian team for this summer’s Champions Trophy. Harbhajan has been named by the International Cricket Council as its brand ambassador for the Champions Trophy, so it could be quite interesting if he forces his way into the squad.

Ashwin was asked to rest after he played remarkably for India in the Test series despite a sports hernia. However, with India coach Anil Kumble making it clear that players coming back from injury need to prove their fitness and match fitness, there is not much scope for Ashwin.

The Champions Trophy comes straight after the IPL and though Jayant Yadav could be a replacement for Ashwin, Harbahajan can fancy his chances this time. He has the chance to prove himself in many more matches in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and as someone who has the hunger to do well, Harbhajan is playing without pressure.

Talk of pressure, former India captain and wicket keeper MS Dhoni is going through a lean patch. Dhoni has been caught in the cross-fire between a few former cricketers. Sourav Ganguly has been quite vocal in his criticism about Dhoni and within his own team, Dhoni is facing unpleasantness after he was removed as captain and Steve Smith was given charge of the Pune side.

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However, Virender Sehwag, now with the Kings XI Punjab as mentor, has rallied behind Dhoni and said that there is shelf life for the crafty wicket-keeper-batsman. It’s strange what all Dhoni has had to deal with in his chequered career. When he was not doing well as the Test captain, a number of former India players got after him. Perhaps, he saw the writing on the wall and announced his retirement from Tests in Australia in 2015 midway through a series.

More recently, Dhoni decided he was done with captaincy in the ODIs and T20s, and was open to playing under Virat Kohli. TV commentators have the freedom to speak with the mike in their hands, so Dhoni is now again under scrutiny.

Hopefully, the selectors will back him as he did well in domestic cricket as well. Not much should be read into a few bad performances in early days of this IPL.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)

Last updated: April 16, 2017 | 12:25
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