It's been a tough road for Harbhajan

Amidst all the excitement surrounding Anil Kumble's ten wicket haul which was the highlight of India's eight victory over New Zealand at Kanpur, one must not lose complete sight of Harbhajan Singh's effort. Coming into the team at the last moment at the expense of Venkatesh Prasad, the 20-year-old off spinner put in an admirable performance and was the ideal foil for Kumble. Harbhajan had four wickets for 63, including three for 33 in the second innings, but from start to finish, none of the New Zealanders could play him with comfort. He was accuracy personified, always made the ball do something on a wicket that admittedly was helpful and the turn and lift he obtained from it had to be seen to be believed. Moreover, Harbhajan Singh is an aggressive bowler, always on the attack, always expecting a wicket. This is a healthy attitude for a young bowler and bound to take him far.

It has not been a path of roses for the youngster. Indeed, the path has been strewn with thorns and within a short time, Harbhajan has experienced it all - triumph and disappointment, success and pressures, public adulation and indifference.

``I have to bowl well to cement my place,'' he had admitted prior to the series against New Zealand. It is not easy to regain your place in the Indian team after you have lost it. This was particularly so in Harbhajan's case, for there was Nikhil Chopra around and Kapil Dev was suddenly talking highly of Vijay Bharadwaj as a bowler. But Harbhajan is made of sterner stuff. Having got his chance, he was going to do all he could to keep his place and even under the shadow of Kumble, he performed better than the more experienced Joshi and did enough to retain his place for the next Test at Ahmedabad. He was particularly good in the second innings when he dismissed Spearman (who misread a floater and was caught at slip), Fleming (who was surprised by the turn and bounce and was caught at short leg) and the obdurate Parore (who misjudged the spin and was bowled trying to sweep from outside the off stump).

The period when his action came under scrutiny from the International Cricket Council was an unnverving phase in his career but Harbhajan has put that unhappy episode behind him. He is only looking to the future - and the immediate future is the tour of Australia. With the Australians always vulnerable to quality off spin, Harbhajan fancies his chances of doing well `Down Under' but he will have to contend with Nikhil Chopra for a place in the squad. Much may depend on his showing at Ahmedabad and given Harbhajan's never say die attitude, one can already see him among the wickets there.