"We talk so much that KL is not making runs" - Harbhajan Singh praises Rahul as a quality player after his defiant show in 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh praised KL Rahul for delivering under pressure in the first Border-Gavaskar 2024-25 Test against Australia in Perth. He pointed out that while the Karnataka batter is often criticized for his failures, the 32-year-old proved he is a quality player.
After registering scores of 0 & 12 in the first Test against New Zealand during the home series, Rahul was dropped for the next two matches. He also struggled while representing India A against Australia A in the second unofficial Test in Melbourne. With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill unavailable for the Perth Test, Rahul opened the innings and registered scores of 26 & 77.
In an interview with PTI, Harbhajan said that Rahul seems constantly under the scanner.
“KL Rahul… we talk so much about him, that KL is not making runs, this is not happening for him or that is not happening but in the end, you see, if you give a (long) run to a player -- he is a quality player, KL Rahul -- and I am so happy for him,” the 44-year-old said.
Harbhajan also praised lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who led Team India in Rohit's absence and was the Player of the Match for claiming eight wickets. Describing the fast bowler as calm, the former cricketer added that Bumrah enjoys a lot of respect in the dressing room.
“Bumrah is an amazing player, and of course, he has got a great mindset. I have been a huge supporter of Bumrah from Day One and he has got that very calm kind of personality,” he said.
“He knows his game and he is one of those guys who is a very likeable person in the dressing room. He commands a lot of respect in the dressing room. So when such a person leads you from the front, the team obviously follows,” Harbhajan added.
Bumrah claimed 5-30 in the first innings and 3-42 in the second as India beat Australia by 295 runs in Perth to register their biggest Test triumph Down Under in terms of runs.
"The team thinks that they have to prepare Washington" - Harbhajan Singh
India dropped Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the Perth Test in favor of Washington Sundar. Speaking specifically about Ashwin (38), Harbhajan admitted that the team management is looking to prepare Sundar as his replacement. The 44-year-old told PTI:
“I think that's what their long term plan is. Ashwin has done a phenomenal job playing for India in taking all those wickets in his career. But now that he is at that stage, at the age of 38, so that's why they have kept Sundar with them (for) whenever Ashwin will retire. The team thinks that they have to prepare Washington, so I think they are working on the same path."
Sundar starred with 16 wickets in two Tests during the home series against New Zealand, which included a career-best of 7-59. He picked up two wickets in the second innings in Perth after scoring a handy 29.