Harbhajan Singh might have had an excellent return to international cricket after an eight-month injury lay-off but it is unlikely that the off-spinner would be seen in the biggest match of the Asia Cup -- an India-Pakistan tie -- on Sunday.
The off-spinner returned his best figures in one-day internationals in terms of economy when he bowled his 10 overs for only 20 runs while picking one wicket against Bangladesh but it seems it would not prove enough for him to earn a place in the eleven.
Harbhajan has reasons to feel delighted that his best figures of seven years and 83 one-day matches was reserved for his comeback match but unwittingly he has spurred competition from Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar himself acknowledged that Harbhajan had nudged him to take his leg-spin bowling seriously and now that the little master has figures to back his utility with the ball, it is he and not the off-spinner who is being considered as the second spinner's choice for the team.
The team management has more or less made up its mind to go into the game against Pakistan with three medium-pacers and a spinner in Anil Kumble with Tendulkar to don the mantle of second spinner in the side.
Tendulkar has bowled in only two games of the Asia Cup so far and in both matches picked up three wickets each. Tendulkar was not asked to bowl against Sri Lanka which could have played a part in India's narrow 12-run defeat against the hosts in the league stage in Dambulla.
The team management did not ask him to bowl against Sri Lanka because it wanted to try out the spin of Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh in a match which they considered was an inconsequential one.
Now the management feels that in case Tendulkar does not come off and takes a hammering in his first five overs, the remaining five overs of the fifth bowler's slot could be shared between Sehwag and Yuvraj.
As far as the medium-pacers' slots are concerned, the team management feels the position of Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji is absolutely non-negotiable.
Both Pathan and Balaji compliment each other well as the new-ball bowlers for India but it is not in bowling alone in which they are seen as beneficial to the team.
The team feels the two new medium-fast bowlers are effective with the bat also and their handy contributions at number eight and nine are an additional bonus.
Against Sri Lanka, Balaji made 10 runs from 12 balls and Pathan 15 off 24 which included a terrific straight six against Muttiah Muralitharan.
Also, both Pathan and Balaji did well against Pakistan in the series held in March-April. They also proved handy with the bat in the Rawalpindi game of the series.
The team management feels Harbhajan was tried against Bangladesh to ease him back into international cricket and give him some confidence. The way he bowled in that game, it served the purpose.
However, at present the bowling combination would only be three medium-fast bowlers and a spinner where the first-choice selection is Anil Kumble.
Another factor working against Harbhajan is that he has never played in a match against Pakistan in his career.
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