Bhajji: T20 requires a ‘thinking bowler’

Cricket365
October 2, 2015

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."