BRISBANE, March 5: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said here on Tuesday the Australian media’s fascination with the behaviour of controversial spinner Harbhajan Singh inspired his team during their tour.

After an unlucky 2-1 loss in the four Test series against the Australians, the young Indian one-day side gained revenge with a 2-0 win in the tri-series finals.

Dhoni rated the triumph as greater than winning the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa last year and said criticism of Harbhajan had “galvanised” the Indians.

Harbhajan was a key figure throughout the tour as he clashed repeatedly with the Australians.

The feisty bowler escaped a three-match suspension for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a monkey in the second Test in Sydney when the decision was overturned on appeal.

He was also involved in a war of words with Matthew Hayden during the one-dayers and was cleared of allegations he made monkey gestures and spat towards the crowd during the first final.

Speaking after Tuesday’s win here to secure the tri-series title, Dhoni said the Indians rallied behind the besieged spinner.

“There was a time when it seemed like he was like Michael Jackson, the way the media were following him,” Dhoni said.

“I think it would have been better if they stuck to cricket.

“He [Harbhajan] was harassed but after a while you get used to it — it backlashed... it galvanised our team.

“It became part of life, for close to three months every day there was something.”—AFP