“Selection should be based on performance”

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh has slammed veteran batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their extraordinary performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Harbhajan Singh stated that the selection should be based on the performance of the player and not on his status or reputation.

India lost the fifth Test in Sydney by six wickets to lose the series 1–3. It was India’s first Test series loss in Australia since the 2014–15 series. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both faltered when the team needed them the most, leading to questions about their position in the Indian Test line-up.

Be it Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, no player is bigger than the game – Harbhajan Singh

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh said that no player, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, should be considered bigger than the game. Harbhajan added that if the selectors decide to include senior players in the England tour, they should ensure that these players play county cricket.

“Selection should be based on performance, be it Virat or Rohit. No player is bigger than the game, even if they think they are superstars in their mind. If you want to take senior players on the tour, you have to be sure of them. Play county cricket before the England series,” Harbhajan said.

Playing as both opener and middle-order batter, Rohit Sharma managed just 31 runs in five overs at an average of 6.2. He has scored 164 runs in his last 15 Test innings at an average of 10.93 with one half-century.

Despite scoring an unbeaten century in the first Test in Perth, Virat Kohli scored just 190 runs at an average of 23.75 in nine innings. He got out in a similar manner while looking at deliveries outside the off-stump eight times. Kohli has scored 359 runs at an average of 27.61 in his last 15 Test innings.

They stuck to stubbornness – Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh questioned the team management’s decision to play two spinners on a pace-friendly pitch in Sydney. Singh added that the team should have considered picking another good seamer who could have been more effective.

“How was the selection made? Was there any point in playing two spinners in Sydney who don’t even bat? So you add spinners to extend your innings because they can bat. But you didn’t see if there was another good seamer, every things could be better.

Series would end 5-0 – Harbhajan Singh

The 44-year-old lauded Jasprit Bumrah for his exceptional bowling and said India would have lost the series 5-0 or 4-0 without him. Singh called Bumrah a “national treasure” and credited him for saving India at several key moments in the series.

“If Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t in this tour, the series would have ended 5-0. Jassi saved India in Perth. He saved India in the remaining matches after Adelaide. If he wasn’t in the series, he would have saved India. They either lost 5-0 or 4-0,” Harbhajan said. .

Also read: Virat Kohli ends scholarship talks after BGT debacle, aims to play till date….