Harbhajan Singh Backing India for Crucial Test Matches Against Australia
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that India has a great opportunity to win the upcoming fourth and fifth Tests of the series against Australia, ahead of the pivotal third Test taking place in Brisbane. Currently, the series stands tied at 1-1, with India having secured a victory in the first Test in Perth, and Australia responding with a win in the second Test in Adelaide. This makes the third Test at the Gabba a crucial battleground, potentially setting the tone for the remainder of the series.
As the teams prepare to clash, Harbhajan praised both sides for their impressive ability to bounce back from defeats. He noted that both teams were somewhat surprised by each other’s performances in the initial Tests, which impacted India’s momentum due to the extended gap between the first and second matches.
"This series is particularly challenging because both teams have the skill to bounce back strong. Australia wouldn’t have expected to lose in Perth, and India was likely taken aback by what transpired in Adelaide after their great win earlier. As Sir Gavaskar mentioned, the lengthy break disrupted India’s rhythm, and we saw the effect of that," Harbhajan said on Star Sports.
The former cricketer emphasized that India needs to secure victories in at least two of the remaining three Tests, suggesting that Melbourne and Sydney would be their ideal venues for success. However, he also expressed confidence that if India manages to win at the Gabba, they could very well take the series.
"Considering this as a three-match series, India has to win two matches. Their best shot is in Sydney and Melbourne. If they perform at their best at the Gabba and pull off a win, I believe they will win either in Melbourne or Sydney. The current tie at 1-1 reflects that both teams are capable of making a comeback. Australia made a strong comeback in Adelaide, and now it’s India’s moment to respond," he explained.
Additionally, India will draw motivation from their previous triumph at the Gabba in 2021, where they ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue, leading to their second consecutive series victory in Australia. India has managed to win the last two series down under and has held onto the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2017. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team is eager to not only win the series but also secure a spot in the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time.
