Bhajji: T20 requires a ‘thinking bowler’

Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh says bowling in T20 cricket is very difficult as the game is geared towards the batsmen, and that you have to keep thinking about your tactics, even when fielding.
Harbhajan will face South Africa in their upcoming T20 series, and will need to use all his experience at home, including in the IPL, to take on the Proteas. He says he'll be looking to prevent or break partnerships.
Harbhajan told the BCCI website: "T20 is a competition where a lot of things happen in a quick span of time. Under such conditions you need to be a thinking bowler. You have to be prepared to bowl at any stage of the game.
"In my case even if I am just fielding, I look to put myself under difficult situations and concentrate on what I need to do. If I see a partnership growing, I look to understand my role as a bowler. That is what I did in the past editions of the IPL.
"I have always tried to break partnerships whenever I have come to bowl and made sure to stick to the team’s plan. I have always kept things simple – look for wickets but at the same time not to try too many things.
"Such has been the case in my bowling over the last three to four years and I have got a lot of rewards for it."
The spinner is pleased to be back in the side after some time on the sidelines, and feels the spin attack, in all formats, is the best they have. With Ravi Ashwin and Amit Mishra in fine form, he's confident of getting the better of the Proteas.
He added: "We have a lot of variety here; we have off-spinners, a left-arm spinner and a leggie. I feel this is the best spin attack we have got at the moment. All of them have really done well in the recent past.
"R Ashwin bowled really well in the previous series against Sri Lanka. He has been fantastic and so has Amit Mishra. Axar Patel has been consistent in his performances in the ODIs. Also, the good thing about our spin department is that everybody can bat.
"This is the best you can get and I am here to give how much ever I can to the team. I am also there to give my advice to these guys on their game. It is a give and take kind of camaraderie among us.
"I am learning a lot of things from them as well. I want to learn, enjoy and try to do my best. I will do my best to win games for India.
"Every game for me is important. I will try and give my best in whatever way I can be it bowling, batting or fielding or whether it is giving suggestions as well.
"This is a very important series for us and we know South Africa are a very good side. Hopefully we will show them what we are made of. We are very much prepared for this competition and I believe it is going to be a good one."
Latest
-
News
ICC Player of the Month nominations for March announced
Winners of the player of the month awards will be announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC’s digital channels.
-
News
Billy Root overshadows brother Joe as England captain suffers against Glamorgan
The visitors closed the second day with the upper hand at Headingley.
-
News
Sadiq Khan hoping to attract future IPL matches to London
London has staged NFL, MLB and NBA matches in London in the past and the London Mayor hopes IPL matches can also be staged in the capital.
-
News
Dan Lawrence shows early touch as Essex start strongly in Championship
There were big hundreds for Sam Robson, Tom Haines and James Vince.
-
News
Sachin Tendulkar thanks medical staff after returning home from hospital
Tendulkar was admitted to hospital last week after revealing he had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been in quarantine at home.
-
News
New Zealand name squad for their Test tour of England
New Zealand have named a 20-player squad for their tour of England, with three uncapped prospects in the group.
-
News
Jamie Porter hoping for England call after picking James Anderson’s brain
Porter was close to his England debut against India three years ago but has fallen down the pecking order.
-
News
ICC Rankings: Fakhar Zaman on the charge in ODIs
Fakhar Zaman has scored back-to-back ODI centuries in South Africa and is in red-hot form.
-
News
ICC pressing ahead with plans for T20 World Cup in India despite Covid-19 spike
Acting chief executive Geoff Allardice says the ICC is “not anywhere near” activating any contingency plans.
-
News
Matt Parkinson takes positives from England tour despite lack of game time
Parkinson did not see competitive action in Sri Lanka or India.