Former Indian star spinner Harbhajan Singh has stirred a hornet’s nest by questioning team India selectors
When it comes to turban-wearing superstar spinners who played for India’s cricket team making a fuss about the selection process, one usually thinks of former India captain and current bête noire of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bishan Singh Bedi. So when one heard that it is the more contemporary Harbhajan Singh, who has raised his voice, questioning the Indian selectors, it came as a surprise. While Harbhajan Singh has never been shy of drawing attention to himself, his altercation with Andrew Symonds during a Test match against Australia and with pacer S Sreesanth during an IPL match are notorious. But he has usually been supportive of the cricket establishment. His attack on the selectors came on behalf of Hyderabad batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who, as Harbhajan acknowledges, is having a great season with his State team and for the Indian developmental sides India A and India B. The spinner, whose post-cricket career as a commentator is not taking flight, asked why Yadav was ignored while a rather nebulous “others” are being given chance after chance.
Is there favoritism among the cricket selectors? This is rather an obvious question. Selectors have always tended to favour players whom they have known for years. The fact is that such favoritism has always existed and until the selection process is made transparent, nothing much will change. Very often with sportspersons, the rigours of the top level of the game are actually different from lower tiers. Many of the best domestic players in cricket have not made the transition to the international game. A lot depends on the mental state. Selectors need to have a “feel” for a player and often give chance to a player, who they believe, has a higher chance of success in the long run, a longer run at the game. They did just that with Virat Kohli almost a decade ago and one doubts any Indian cricket fan questions that decision today. Things will always seem unfair towards one player or another but as long as the Indian team keeps succeeding, questioning the selectors ought to be frowned upon. They will make mistakes now and again but on the whole, their overall success is what should be measured.