The only bright spot for India on Day 4 of the first Test in Bangalore was the superb performance of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. And though India are on the threshold of defeat, the thought that the young Sardar is back at his best is a major consolation.
Harbhajan Singh has matured considerably, like fine wine. Over the last four years he has grown from a shy individual to one who can handle the media with considerable finesse.
A brilliant spell of off-spin bowling saw him claim six wickets for 78 runs and demolish the second innings of the visitors. It was his sixth consecutive five-wicket haul against the Australians and saw him finish with figures of 11 for 224 in the match, the best performance by any bowler at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Incredibly, all his three ten-wicket hauls have come against the Australians. Like with V V S Laxman, there seems to be something about the best team in the world that brings the best out of the young Sikh.
"It [taking wickets] is something that is like a habit," Bajji said later. "I am very happy with my bowling in the match."
He admitted that when he took the field for the Test, he was determined to prove a point to 'some people who talk too much'. "I hope those people have now got their answer," he said. "I am not a god. I am human. There are some matches in which I will bowl badly and others in which I will do well. You can't hold every performance against me. I am just like everyone else here, I am human."
Singh gave a lot of credit to his close-in fielders over the years. In India, it is vital to have players in these positions who trust the bowler. "It is great to have fielders like Yuvraj and Aakash Chopra up close," the off-spinner said. "You bowl with the knowledge that catches will not be dropped."
The fielders play a very important role, he said. "Even in the last Test series [against the Australians], Sadagopan Ramesh and Shib Sunder Das had done a brilliant job."
Bajji admitted that the loss of Sachin Tendulkar in this Test was a big one, but pointed to the fact that the series is a long one, with three more Tests to come. "Sachin not playing is a big blow for us," he said, "and will always make the difference. He can bat on any type of wicket, score 100-200. And, of course, take a few wickets with his leg-spin as well.
"But it is a long series and at some point or the other we have to turn it around. We have the players to do the job, but it must be done quickly."
"The match," he remarked, "is not yet over."
Asked if he would rate today's performance as his best, the man known to the Australians as The Turbanator, smiled. "My best is yet to come," he said.
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