‘He did dirty work’, Harbhajan Singh targets Virat Kohli; India’s unsung hero in Test cricket praised

After India’s disappointing defeat in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), the team under the guidance of coach Rahul Dravid has decided to make significant changes to their squad for the next cycle of the tournament. Despite reaching consecutive finals in both the editions of WTC, India has been unable to clinch the coveted title. With their eyes set on winning the ICC Championship, the two-time runners-up are determined to break their drought in the upcoming third season of the tournament.

India’s quest for their maiden WTC title will begin with the Test series against the West Indies. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mukesh Kumar have earned their places in the Test team on the basis of their consistent performances in domestic cricket and for India A.

In a strategic move to invest in the next generation, India have decided to rest senior pacer Mohammed Shami while veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the Test squad. Pujara, who recently turned 35, has been a mainstay at the No.3 spot for India for many years now. However, he was dropped for his over-defensive approach and poor performance in the WTC final against Australia. As a result, a new No. 3 batsman is expected to be unveiled by Rohit Sharma’s team during the Caribbean series.

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh praised Pujara in his assessment ahead of the opening Test, describing him as one of the pillars of strength for Team India. Harbhajan considers Pujara an unsung hero who has played a vital role in the team’s success over the years. Acknowledging Pujara’s selfless contribution, Harbhajan emphasized his ability to manage the innings and create a comfortable environment for the other batsmen.

See also: Sunil Gavaskar upset over R Ashwin’s ‘just colleagues’ comment; Says ‘You should be able to come together..’

Harbhajan also defended Pujara’s strike rate and highlighted the failure of the collective batting in the WTC final, where none of the Indian batsmen managed to cross the 50-run mark except for Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur. Taking a subtle dig at the great Virat Kohli, who is also struggling with his red-ball form, Harbhajan drew attention to Pujara and Kohli’s similar averages in the last WTC cycle.

Priceless mementos, priceless selfies and autographs (written by hand) in lots of feet. ‘Most favorite batsman of all time’ – Virat Kohli :smiley::ok_hand::skin-tone-2:#TeamIndia , #WIvIND , @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/G2KN5Q5cAV

– BCCI (@BCCI) 10 July 2023

Although Pujara’s strike rate has often been a subject of debate, Harbhajan said that India still needed a player like Pujara in the batting lineup. With 7,195 runs in 103 Tests, the Saurashtra superstar has been a valuable asset to the Indian team since his debut against Australia in 2010.

As India gear up for the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, the changes in the squad reflect a strategic shift towards young talent, while Pujara’s absence raises questions over the team’s batting line-up. The upcoming Test series against the West Indies will not only provide fresh faces an opportunity to prove their mettle, but will also test India’s ability to adapt and find stability at the crucial No.3 position.

See also: Ajinkya Rahane’s strong reply to the reporter who asked about Ajinkya Rahane’s age before the first test