Harbhajan not at his best but we are not worried, says Dhoni

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is not at his best but the team is not losing sleep over his form, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in New Delhi.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is not at his best but the team is not losing sleep over his form, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in New Delhi on Friday.

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On the eve of India's third ODI against Australia, Dhoni threw his weight behind Harbhajan, who has been lacklustre with the ball of late.

"For sure, he is not at his best," Dhoni told reporters after the practice sessions.

"But considering the kind of player he is, for someone who loves challenges, I think he is just one game away from bouncing back.

"We are not worried about players who have so much of international experience," Dhoni said.

His assertions notwithstanding, the India captain had a long session with Harbhajan in the nets where the off-spinner was asked to pitch his deliveries on a stump placed at the good length area.

Subsequently, Harbhajan was seen bowling to a single wicket with Virender Sehwag facing him.

Dhoni said it was a regular kind of practice.

"It's a simple practice, which we often do with bowlers bowling to a single wicket," he said.

While all the Indian players sweated out in the two-hour practice session, Ashish Nehra stayed away from action, playing football and doing stretching instead.

Dhoni, however, assured there was no issue with the left-arm pacer's fitness.