LONDON, Sept 10: India coach John Wright is backing spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble to have a major impact during the ICC Champions Trophy in England.
India, co-holders of the trophy after 2002's washed-out final against Sri Lanka in Colombo, begin the defence of their title against Kenya at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Saturday. And while many sides, India included, will be expecting much from their pace attacks, the Asian giants know they can count on two of the best slow bowlers in the game today.
On Sunday, in the final match of India's warm-up series against England at Lord's, off-spinner Harbhajan took a masterful three for 28 in 10 overs to end the hosts' hopes of a 3-0 clean sweep.
Meanwhile leg-spinner Kumble, whose ability to mix fast, flat deliveries with googlies makes him an awkward opponent, kept things tight in a spell of 10 overs for 36 runs. The Lord's pitch was labelled "sub-continental" by England captain Michael Vaughan and if the current hot, dry spell continues the India pair could be a huge threat.
Both men have fine One-day International records with Kumble taking 321 wickets at just over 30 runs each in 259 matches and Harbhajan 113 wickets in 88 matches at a touch above 28 apiece
Harbhajan shot to fame in 2001 when, as a then 20-year-old and in the absence of the injured Kumble, now 33, he took an astonishing 32 wickets in the three home Tests against Australia.
His haul was a highlight in one of the all-time great cricket campaigns as India came from behind to win the series 2-1, a result that ended Australia's world record run of 16 consecutive Test wins.
For former New Zealand batsman Wright, then recently-installed as India coach, the impression Harbhajan made was instant. "We were looking for spinners and Kumble was injured. Anil and I had a look at 10 or 12 spinners in Chennai and that was the first time I had seen him (Harbhajan) at close quarters," said Wright.
"He got bounce and lots of turn. When you see someone like that, well you just don't see who can bounce it and turn it like that. He got his line right and his confidence grew from that.
"The thing about Harbhajan is that he is a vicious competitor and that's what I love about both Kumble and Harbhajan." But Wright, whose side also face arch-rivals Pakistan in Pool 'C', added there were ways in which the duo differed.
"Anil's a great technician, extremely determined and a wonderful professional. In everything he does he is a great role model for all youngsters. "Harbhajan is younger, he probably shows his emotions a lot more. It will be good for us to have both of them bowling together.
"They are world-class bowlers especially in any conditions where spin is prevalent and they enjoy bowling together." Meanwhile, Indian medium-pacer Amit Bhandari will replace seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who was ruled out of the tournament with an abdominal injury on Friday.
Bhandari, 25, has grabbed five wickets in his two One-day Internationals for India but has an economy rate of six runs an over. He last played against Zimbabwe in Perth in February.
Balaji's loss is a big blow for India, already without leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who is out with tennis elbow. In good form of late, Balaji took two for 37 against England in a warm-up game and three for 27 against Pakistan. -Agencies
