Bhajji is still India’s best bet

Harbhajan bowled well in the T20 World Cup, is a seasoned campaigner and is still your best spinning option in the shortest format, writes Sourav Ganguly.

Pakistan are resuming the bilateral series after five years and it is going to be an exciting one. A lot of things have happened in Indian cricket over the last one year -- the retirement of Dravid, Laxman and now the recent news of Sachin will add to the interest.

India have dominated Pakistan for the last 10 years, and this is the first time they will be playing us at a time when our confidence is dented after the recent losses. In no way will that make India a weaker team because they have the ability to lift their game against Pakistan.

Ideal setting
Bangalore is a brilliant venue for the first match of the series. The stadium has witnessed many important India-Pakistan matches and it is ready for yet another. The pitch should be a batting beauty and going by experience, this should be a big-scoring game.

We witnessed in Pune and Mumbai that dew played an important role, and I believe it will have an effect here as well. So, the toss will play a part and both captains will love to win it and bat second, so that the opponent spinners have a tough time gripping the white ball.

India have the talent and depth, but when it comes to bowling, the new-ball bowlers are young and the selectors have added Ishant Sharma to bring in some experience.

The spinners were not at their best in the last two T20 matches against England and it has been Yuvraj Singh who has been the strike bowler.

Dew factor
Keeping the dew in mind, India can think of playing an extra seamer in the place of a spinner with Yuvraj fitting in as the specialist spinner.

Looking at the way the spinners have bowled, I am surprised that the selectors didn’t think about Harbhajan, especially in a series against Pakistan.

He bowled well in the T20 World Cup, is a seasoned campaigner and is still your best spinning option in the shortest format. But I would still keep India ahead because of their ability to soak in pressure.

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The writer is a former India captain