Indian captain Rahul Dravid has rebutted criticism about leaving out Harbhajan Singh for the first two Tests, saying Virender Sehwag as part-time bowler has performed the fifth bowler's role efficiently.
"Harbhajan is a good bowler so when he is fit, he always comes into consideration. But then four bowlers did the job for us in the last game," Dravid said on Tuesday.
"In an ideal scenario, we would have liked to have five bowlers but Veeru has done the job for us. He adds extra string in the bow for us."
The issue of Harbhajan is a live one among cricket fans and experts for the Indian team clearly missed his services in the first two Tests.
The third Test starts on Thursday.
He bowled brilliantly in the preceding one-day series, was rested in the first Test though in the second was only half-fit when the game began in St. Lucia.
In Harbhajan's absence, India played an inexperienced attack in the first Test. Between Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and VRV Singh, the experience was of no more than four Tests.
{{/usCountry}}In Harbhajan's absence, India played an inexperienced attack in the first Test. Between Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and VRV Singh, the experience was of no more than four Tests.
{{/usCountry}}In the second too, Irfan Pathan was included but despite his two wickets, he didn't appear a frontline option for India.
The situation was saved by Virender Sehwag who picked up four wickets each in the first two Tests and provided breakthroughs whenever the team needed it.
His scalp included no less than that of Brian Lara and a certain Dwayne Bravo was shielded away from him.