Harbhajan Singh says anyone can be replaced in the Indian team

He discusses age, fitness, and form as important factors but also highlights that teams are scrutinized after losing matches.

In the recent home Tests, India’s batting has collapsed, leading to questions over the future of several senior players in the format. India’s recent defeat against New Zealand at home has put the spotlight on the team’s woes with the bat. Apart from Yashasvi Jaiswal, no other player, including senior players like captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has been able to perform exceedingly well in the Indian top order.

Not so good performance by senior players in the India team.

Kohli and Rohit were among the senior players who skipped the Duleep Trophy ahead of the first Test series of this season against Bangladesh. Kohli scored only two centuries in the last four years and crossed fifty just once in the five Tests that he played thus far in 2024.

Harbhajan Singh highlights that questions arise when a team starts losing.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said that while the age of the senior players tends to be a factor when questions arise about their form, it starts coming under the scanner only when the team starts losing. As per PTI, he said, “Look age is a factor for some in this team but then Virat and Jaddu are extremely fit guys. Yes, age, fitness, and form are criteria, but the questions crop up once you start losing. The onus obviously comes on seniors in the team. It happened in that phase.”

Harbhajan Singh says anyone can be replaced in the Indian team.

Harbhajan Singh says that anyone can be replaced in the Indian team.  He said, “Who said that replacements can’t be found? (Sunil) Gavaskar saab gaye, (Sachin) Tendulkar saab aaye, humein Kohli mila aur bhavishya mein bhi aisa hoga. (Gavaskar came and went, Tendulkar came and went, we got Kohli, and we will get someone in the future as well).”

Harbhajan says there is enough talent in domestic cricket.

Harbhajan said that there is enough talent in domestic cricket and it’s important to give them opportunities at the right time, saying, “How did you get Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and now Sarfaraz Khan. It is from domestic cricket only. It is about getting right opportunities at right time. If you get chance at right time, you can become Virat Kohli or else you could be Amol Mujumdar or Amarjeet Kaypee.”