Former spinner Harbhajan Singh has warned the Indian team to be cautious of Fakhar Zaman in the upcoming fixture against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. India and Pakistan will add another chapter to their famed cricketing rivalry in Dubai on February 23. Ahead of the much-anticipated encounter, Harbhajan warned the Rohit Sharma-led side to be wary of Fakhar, who has the experience to take the game away from India. “Fakhar has that experience, and he can take the game away from India,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

The southpaw boasts an impressive record against the Men in Blue in the ODIs. With his explosive approach, Fakhar has garnered 234 runs in six matches, averaging 46.80 at a blistering strike rate of 82.39.

In the Champions Trophy, India and Pakistan last battled in the final of the 2017 edition at The Oval. Fakhar proved the difference between the two sides when the stakes were high.

After being put to bat on a placid surface, Fakhar delivered a swashbuckling 114 from 106 deliveries to lift Pakistan to a herculean score of 338/4. In reply, India’s batters crumbled in pursuit of the mounting target and succumbed to a 180-run defeat.

The defending champions, Pakistan, hold an edge over India in the Champions Trophy, winning three compared to India’s two out of their five matches in the tournament.

During the buildup of the Champions Trophy, India will enter the tournament with a scorching form. Days before the Champions Trophy, the Rohit Sharma-led side sweeped the ODI series away with a 3-0 win over England.

On the other hand, Pakistan has been dwindling for consistency, form and rhythm. On their home turf, the Men in Green lost the ODI Tri-nation series between South Africa and New Zealand.

The hosts comprehensively lost the first game against the Kiwis but found their rhythm by chasing down a record 353-run target against South Africa in Karachi.

In the final, New Zealand edged out the Men in Green without breaking a sweat, establishing their supremacy before playing the tournament opener against Pakistan on Wednesday. Before featuring in the high-profile match against Pakistan, India will begin its campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.

While dropping his prediction, former spinner Harbhajan Singh has cautioned fans not to expect much entertainment in the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy on February 23. The tension and atmosphere are entirely different when the arch-rivals appear on the same field in search of glory. After playing out a nerve-wracking thriller in the T20 World Cup 2024 group stage, India and Pakistan will add a new chapter in their cut-throat rivalry on February 23 in Dubai.

India and Pakistan’s last encounter in the Champions Trophy dates back to the 2017 final at The Oval. With Sarfaraz Ahmed at the helm, Pakistan lifted its maiden Champions Trophy title with an emphatic 180-run triumph over its bitter rival.

But this time, Harbhajan doesn’t expect the “overhyped” match to go right down to the wire, considering the massive gap between the two sides.

“We will discuss the overhyped match between India and Pakistan. Yes, it is overhyped because there is nothing in it. India is a strong team. Pakistan is inconsistent. If you compare the numbers with the Indian team, the picture will become clear,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

During the buildup of the marquee event, India will enter the tournament with a scorching form. Days before the Champions Trophy, the Rohit Sharma-led side sweeped the ODI series away with a 3-0 win over England.

On the other hand, Pakistan, on their home turf, lost the ODI Tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand. The hosts comprehensively lost the first game against the Kiwis but found their rhythm by chasing down a record 353-run target against South Africa in Karachi.

In the final, New Zealand edged out the Men in Green without breaking a sweat, establishing their supremacy before playing the tournament opener against Pakistan on Wednesday.

For Harbhajan, the difference in the form that both sides have boasted before the tournament proves to be a reason for India’s success in their upcoming encounter against Pakistan.

“I think the Pakistan team is undercooked. Apart from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, there are not many batters. I feel it will be a one-sided game. I don’t think there will be much entertainment. I think in this contest, India is far ahead,” he added.

“Enjoy” is the simple message former spinner Harbhajan Singh had for Indian cricket stalwart Virat Kohli, who is currently playing in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways. The hometown hero returned to the Arun Jaitley Stadium for his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012. Fans turned up in large numbers and filled the stadium to catch a glimpse of their beloved star in action. The crowd went wild when a fan managed to slip past the security and made his way onto the field to touch Virat’s feet while he was stationed at the slips.

For Harbhajan, whether Virat scores runs or not is a different matter altogether. He just wants Virat to enjoy cricket and impart knowledge to India’s young crop of talent.

“Virat Kohli is a role model. Youngsters will look up to him. If he scores runs or doesn’t, it is a different matter. If I was Virat Kohli, it would be to enjoy. When we start playing cricket because we enjoy it,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

“When you reach Virat’s level, the pressure and expectations take the front seat while enjoyment takes the back seat. I want him to enjoy the game and tell youngsters how to be Virat Kohli,” he added.

Virat’s return to the domestic circuit comes during a phase when runs have eluded him. Last year, the 36-year-old had an underwhelming run across all formats, considering the standards he has set for himself.

Virat ended 2024 with just 655 international runs in 23 matches and 32 innings, averaging 21.83, with one century and two fifties. His best score of the year was an unbeaten century in Perth against Australia.

When one takes a closer look at his statistics, Virat’s prolonged dry spell in red-ball formats stands out. In 10 Tests last year, the seasoned star scored just 417 runs at an average of 24.52, with only one century and one fifty.

Harbhajan had a simple solution for Virat to cure his run-scoring woes: “Occupy the crease.” The former spinner believes that if the 36-year-old spends time on the crease, runs will naturally flow from his bat.

“When he goes out to bat, he should occupy the crease and spend three to four hours. Even if Virat scores zero, he will still be Virat Kohli. He will never be a lesser player. His achievements are very big. He should occupy the crease, and if he does that, he will score runs,” he added.

The competition for places in the Indian team is such that one or two deserving players often miss out, no matter the series or tournament. As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the Champions Trophy and England ODIs, wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson missed out despite his exemplary average in the 50-over format. Harbhajan Singh, former India spinner, admitted being heartbroken to see Samson miss out. While the argument remains, in whose place, should Samson have been picked, Harbhajan feels space could’ve been made for the Kerala cricketer.

“Truly, I feel bad for him. He scores runs but he is dropped. I know you can only select 15, but I feel his batting suits the format. He has an average of 55-56, but he isn’t even there as a second wicketkeeper. When we talk about selecting him, people ask, in whose place? Places can be made,” Harbhajan said in a chat with Switch.

Samson isn’t the only player whose absence left Harbhajan disappointed. The former India spinner also questioned the omission of leg-spinnner Yuzvendra Chahal, who isn’t a part of India’s T20I series against England either.

“Sanju isn’t there. Yuzvendra Chahal isn’t there, too. You’ve picked four spinners, two of them are left-armers. You could’ve included a leg-spinner for variation, too. Chahal is a superb bowler. I don’t know what wrong he did that he doesn’t fit this team,” said Harbhajan.

Young opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was picked for the ICC Champions Trophy but Harbhajan doesn’t think he would get to open or play either at No. 3 or No. 4.

“I thought Yashasvi would open, but now, I don’t feel that. Shubman Gill is the vice-captain, so he will play. And Yashasvi won’t bat at three or four, because Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will occupy those spots,” said Harbhajan.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has lashed out at the management over Karun Nair‘s omission from the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy. On Saturday, India captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar announced India’s 15-man squad during a press conference at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Nair scored 27 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final against Karnataka, ending the season as the highest run-getter with 779 runs in eight matches.

However, Harbhajan lashed out at the selectors for ignoring Nair, and questioned whether there’s any point of scoring runs in domestic cricket when performing players are not being selected.

“Is there a point playing Domestic cricket when you don’t pick players based on form & performance?,” Harbhajan posted on X.

Is there a point playing Domestic cricket when you don’t pick players based on form & performance ? #KarunNair

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 18, 2025

During the press conference, Agarkar admitted that it was indeed tough to include Karun in a squad of 15 in the current situation.

“Yeah, it is tough. Those are really special performances. I mean, someone who averages – 700-plus, 750-plus. We did have a chat (about Karun),” Agarkar explained.

“But at the moment, to find a spot in this team is very difficult. I mean, look at the guys who’ve been picked. All average well in excess of mid-40s.

“So, unfortunately, you can’t fit everyone in. It’s a squad of 15. But those performances (like Karun) certainly make you take notice,” he added.

Having last played for India in March 2017, Nair was the only Test triple centurion for India after legendary opener Virender Sehwag.

In six Tests for India since his debut in 2016, he made 374 runs in seven innings at an average of 62.33, with best score of 303*. Nair also played two ODIs for India, scoring 46 runs with best score of 39.

India Squad for Champions Trophy and England ODIs: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardil Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (only 2 ODIs vs England)

(With ANI Inputs)

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday asserted that the BCCI’s 10-point policy for its centrally-contracted players has actually been in place since his playing days and wanted to know when was it “altered” and by whom. Terming the guidelines “fresh documentation”, Harbhajan said the move diverts attention from the team’s forgettable on-field performance against New Zealand and Australia recently. Days after the 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI has come up with a 10-point diktat to promote “discipline and unity”, making domestic cricket mandatory, imposing restriction on the presence of families and personal staff on tours and banning individual commercial endorsements during series.

To Harbhajan, all these measures seemed like old wine in a new bottle.

“Let me first put this on record. When I was reading the travel policy document reported by the media, I hardly found anything new from the last time I represented India as a centrally-contracted cricketer,” Harbhajan told PTI during an interaction.

“At least nine out of 10 points, including duration of family visits, staying in same hotel, practice timings, all are same. My question is if these rules were in place during my time, who all have altered it and when? That should be probed,” Harbhajan, who has 700 plus international wickets across formats, said.

The same assertion was also made by one of Harbhajan’s former India teammate Irfan Pathan.

For Harbhajan, what is certainly not funny is the timing of issuing these guidelines as he feels the discussion should have been strictly on cricket only.

“Hum log mudde se bhatak rahein hain (We are deviating from the main issue). We didn’t lose 1-3 because wives and partners were there for two months. We didn’t lose because someone travelled separately.

“We lost because we have played very poor cricket at times. We didn’t bat well even at home. We have players who are horribly out of form. What are the course corrections being made? Or is it just these off-the-field things being discussed?” he questioned.

One of India’s finest spinners, Harbhajan then recollected his playing days.

“I think some of the points needed to be revisited because they were being flouted. Like in our times, I never saw a Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble leave for Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru just because the match has ended in three days and next game is a week away.

“They all stayed and travelled to next destination. Only change I see (in the new rulebook) is 150 kg suitcase allowance. Back in the day, we used to have lesser.

“Why would you need to tell players that you have to travel by team bus? That’s a given. If someone was breaking the rule, that person needs to be probed.” While he completely supported barring the personal entourage of any particular player or a coach, Harbhajan felt that the BCCI can have a couple of quality chefs travelling with the team.

“BCCI has deep pockets. Why do you need to carry personal chefs. In soccer World Cup, big teams carry their own chef, who takes care of dietary requirements of players. Have a couple of team chefs. It is not a big deal,” he added.

Gambhir’s role is on field not administrative

According to Harbhajan, the only thing new in the policy document is players requiring prior approval of head coach Gautam Gambhir on certain matters, and the former spinner didn’t agree with that.

“In our times, it used to be written that prior approval of BCCI was needed on certain matters. So, for approvals, drop a mail to BCCI and ask for permission. Why does the head coach need to get into all this? That is not his job.

“His job is on the field and in the technical aspects where we are lacking. Administrative part should be left with competent people in the BCCI,” he said.

File photo of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma; (right) Harbhajan Singh© AFP

File photo of Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir© AFP

Veteran batter Karun Nair is eyeing a comeback into the Indian cricket team, following his purple patch with the bat in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. In six matches, the Vidarbha batter has amassed 664 runs with five centuries and an impressive strike rate of 120.07. Nair has been dismissed just once in six games and is currently the top-scorer in the tournament, with fans and experts vouching for his return to the Indian team set-up. For the unversed, Nair smashed a triple century on his Test debut against England in 2016, but was dropped from the team three games later.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh is the latest to speak in detail about the selectors ignoring Nair despite his recent resurgence.

“I’m looking at his stats. In 2024/25, he played six innings, remained not out in 5, scoring 664 and that was his average. And he’s played at a strike rate of 120. And they don’t pick him. It’s unfair,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

Harbhajan also questioned the criteria of selection, highlighting that while seniors like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are being force to play Ranji Trophy, but those getting runs at the domestic circuit are getting ignored.

“Many are selected on the basis of just two games, some are just selected basis the IPL. So, why are rules different for him? People say Rohit and Virat are out of form, and you’re sending them to Ranji. But those who are playing Ranji and scoring runs… why are you ignoring them? When will these guys play? They are scoring runs here,” he added.

Harbhajan also called out the then selectors for dropping Nair from the team three games after he became India’s second triple centurion.

“I never understood how he was dropped after a triple century. It pains me that no one talks about players like him. He went to England with the team but didn’t get a game. For the fifth Test, they actually flew a player from India, I think it was Hanuma Vihari, and he played the Test instead of Nair. Give me the reason for this. Does it make sense? Different rules for different people… that shouldn’t be the way. When they are scoring runs, you need to play him, right? He doesn’t have tattoos, doesn’t wear fancy clothes, is that the reason you’re not picking him? Does he not work hard?” Harbhajan questioned.

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh feels Axar Patel is ready to fill in Ravindra Jadeja’s shoes for the all-rounder role for India. He also pondered India’s wicketkeeping options and felt Sanju Samson being picked ahead of Rishabh Pant could be a possibility for the Champions Trophy. After months of uncertainty, the Champions Trophy is almost a month away from returning after seven years. Speculations have been building around the possible players who could feature in the list of players that the BCCI decides to put its faith in.

Jadeja, an all-rounder who has delivered in all spectrums of the game for years, is now facing a scenario where he could be axed from the squad.

With the recent surge of Axar Patel, there are high chance that only one out of the two could be on the plane to Dubai. If such a scenario arises, Harbhajan wants Axar to be in Dubai with the Men in Blue ahead of the seasoned all-rounder.

“I have chosen Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja. I think Axar is ready to fulfil the role that Jadeja has done for so many years,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

Another dilemma that India needs to address is the wicketkeeping options. Rishabh Pant was considered to be the hot pick in the department before a life-threatening accident in 2022 kept him out of action till 2024.

During that period, India tried out many players in the position but never got the satisfaction or confidence. Since Pant made his return, Sanju Samson has become a hot prospect in the white-ball format.

After Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is, Sanju grabbed the opportunity with both hands. While opening for India in the shortest format of cricket, he showed his class against Bangladesh on home turf with a century.

The experienced batter then went on to etch his name in the history book by becoming the first batter to tonk three centuries in T20Is in a calendar year.

With Pant going through a long tour of Australia, Harbhajan feels it won’t be a “big thing” if Samson is preferred for the Champions Trophy over the explosive southpaw.

“I think one among Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant should be picked. I feel Sanju should be preferred because he had played in South Africa. Rishabh played well in Australia, but it was a long tour, so if he is rested, it’s not a big thing,” Harbhajan added.