Harbhajan Singh, the veteran Indian off-spinner backed Virat Kohli-led India to win the next ICC T20 World Cup that to be held in India in 2021 after being postponed and moved to India from Australia in 2020 in the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic.
Harbhajan Singh was of the opinion that the current Indian outfit is the best T20I team in the world after India won the second T20I against the hosts Australia, chasing a stiff 195 runs to win.
Harbhajan Singh. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Harbhajan Singh Rates India Favourites To Win 2021 World Cup After Star Players Consistent Performances In IPL Circuit
Harbjajan Singh credited the IPL for providing the platform for the Indian youngsters like T Natarajan who debuted in T20Is spectacularly finishing with 6 scalps in the T20I series after India restricted Australia to 186/5 in 3rd T20I.
“Yes most definitely, India is the favorite team for the World Cup. I feel that the kind of players we have got, they play in the IPL with stars and learn very quickly and adapt to the situation better than the others. That’s what makes them better players,” Harbhajan Singh said.
“Under high pressure, they have done really well for their respective teams in the IPL. It’s a positive sign for team India. At the moment, India is probably the strongest T20I side in world cricket, no matter where they are playing,” he further added.
Yuzvendra Chahal. Image Credit: Twitter.
IPL has seen emergence of players like spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who came as a concussion substitute for injured Ravindra Jadeja and returned with figures of 3/25 in the first game of this T20I series. Jasprit Bumrah has been another standout performer as he picked as many as 27 wickets averaging a meager 14.96 in IPL 2020 and finished as second-highest wicket-taker.
But India rested him in all 3 T20Is and played with pacers Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami/Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan besides the spinners Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal which indicates India have great bench strength after emergence of key players in IPL.
Harbhajan Singh : Hardik Pandya Is As Good As Andre Russell
Harhajan Singh credited Hardik Pandyafor having talent and excelling in tough situations. He said the Baroda all-rounder’s confidence is increasing every day and he is better than even Andre Russell as proper finisher who can hit sixes at will.
In the ongoing Australia tour, Hardik Pandya emerged as India’s highest run getter in ODIs and followed it up by scoring an unbeaten 42 off 22 balls in 2nd T20I which was an important match-winning innings in India’s chase of 195.
Hardik Pandya. Photo Credit: Getty Images.
“He always had the talent. We knew he could hit big sixes. But now he has been playing consistently, he has got the idea of staying there and finishing the game. Confidence is building every day. He is someone who is a proper finisher for Team India. He is as good as Russell, maybe better than, I would say. He is hitting sixes at will,” Harbhajan Singh said.
India have already taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the 3-match T20I series after losing the ODI series by 2-1 and will look to complete a 3-0 whitewash by successfully chasing 187 runs in the third and final T20I.
