Harbhajan Singh Criticises Virat Kohli's Captaincy As India Concede ODI Series In Australia

Team India’s bowling performance in the first two ODIs against Australia has been nothing less than shocking. India suffered crushing defeats in both the games as Australia scored huge totals. Jasprit Bumrah has been the biggest disappointment so far while the likes of Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini have not done well either.

In the first ODI, Shami did well to take three wickets for 59 runs off his 10 overs but went wicketless for 73 runs off 9 overs in the second ODI. Jasprit Bumrah, on the other hand, picked one wicket in each of the first two ODIs while conceding 73 and 79 runs.

With neither Shami nor Jasprit Bumrah being able to deliver, India struggled to get the early breakthroughs in both the games. In the first, Aaron Finch and David Warner added 156 runs for the first wicket before sharing a 142-run stand in the second game as Australia scored 374 and 389 runs respectively.

Harbhajan Singh critical of Virat Kohli’s captaincy:

As Shami and Jasprit Bumrah struggle to deliver on the Australian wickets, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has criticised Virat Kohli’s captaincy. The bowling legend has said that the India captain could have manage the bowlers ‘a little better’.

“New ball is a very good weapon and India will have to find a way to use it in these Australian conditions.

“Virat could have managed the bowlers a little better. When Shami was bowling better, he could have stuck to him for longer, and tried to set up a tighter field to build pressure,” Harbhajan Singh told India Today.

“We know Bumrah is a match winner and someone who can pick wickets early on, but unfortunately he has not been able to do it in the tour,” he added.

He further explained what the Indian pacers need to do to turnover their poor performance. The World Cup-winner said that Bumrah, Shami and Saini need to figure out a way to swing the new ball.

“Swing is something that is lacking for him (Bumrah). If you can swing the ball even for the first 2-3 overs, you create a lot of doubt in the minds of the batsman.

“There is assistance for the fast bowlers in Australia and our pacers need to find a way to utilise it. Bumrah, Shami and even Saini need to find a way to swing the ball, and make the new ball count and that is how the game will change in India’s favour,” Harbhajan Singh said.

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