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Harbhajan Singh (Credits - BCCI)

Indian veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has named four batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) who are some of the most challenging ones to bowl to. In an interview with Cricket Monthly, the experienced off-spinner made the disclosure. Harbhajan Singh picked Rohit Sharma and Ab de Villiers as the most dangerous to face.

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Since the inception of IPL in 2008, Harbhajan Singh has played for Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings across 150 games. The Turbanator firstly picked the swashbuckling Australian opener, David Warner, who he believes is relatively tough to bowl to than Chris Gayle. Warner has featured in 126 matches and is one of the potent batsmen with 4706 runs at a strike ate of 142.39.

Harbhajan Singh, David Warner and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
David Warner and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.

The 39-year old mentioned that Warner has an extensive range of strokes, having the ability to cut, sweep-hit, switch-hit, hitting over cover by dancing down the track. He further said that it is essential to fluctuate their pace against the southpaw without feeling perturbed. Harbhajan Singh has got the 33-year old’s wicket four times.

“Warner is very good on the back foot – he will cut you. He can switch-hit, he can sweep pretty nicely, he can hit you over cover. He can step out too. Compared to Gayle, Warner is more difficult for me to bowl to. Warner hits everywhere, so it is very important to vary the pace against him. Your body language, your eye contact has to be right. You cannot show him you are scared,” he said.

I have never ever felt it difficult to bowl against Gayle: Harbhajan Singh

Chris Gayle 36 Runs Off An Over Vs KTK IPL 2011
(Photo Source: BCCI)

The 103-Test veteran was one of the few to admit that Chris Gayle never terrified him, having got his scalp five times. Harbhajan Singh feels that the left-handed batsman becomes vulnerable when someone bowls slow to him, which forces him to step out of the crease. He went on to say that he has bowled a lot to him in powerplays, but the whirlwind Jamaican batsman didn’t attempt any exotic strokes. The 40-year old is one of the most destructive batsmen in IPL, having six hundreds under his belt and made a record score of 175* in 2013.

“Gayle, if someone bowls quick to him, he will keep hitting sixes. If someone bowls slow to him, he’ll have to come out of the crease, which he is not comfortable with. I have never ever felt it difficult to bowl against Gayle. I have bowled a lot at him in powerplays. He did not have the sweep. He did not have the shot over mid-on,” Harbhajan Singh said.

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