With the test series between India and Sri Lanka starting tomorrow, it is slated as a clash between the spin giants. If Sri Lanka will be betting on mastery of Murali and mystery of Mendis, India will surely rely on the accuracy of Anil Kumble and aura around Harbhajan Singh. While Kumble’s record is beyond the microscopes of any analysis, Harbhajan Singh is yet to become a reliable replacement of his senior in the team.

Bhajji entered the scene in 1998 but remained a shadow of Anil Kumble till Steve Waugh’s final frontier arrived in India in 2001. With 32 wickets in 3 tests, he turned into a turbanator. But since then, such magical performance has eluded him although it will be fair to say that such series come once in a life time.

With 275 wickets in 66 tests at an average of 31, his career could be said as nothing spectacular.  Yeah, he has been second best after Anil Kumble for many a years now. Kumble had taken 300 wickets after 66 matches at 28 a piece which is slightly better than Bhajji’s record. Kumble’s initial matches also included those on crater-filled pitches at home, a privilege Bhajji certainly hasn’t enjoyed. But Kumble’s performance improved drastically especially in the current decade. Can Bhajji do it? Only time will tell.

Bhajji’s biggest problem has been performing abroad. Table below compares his performance away and at home

The startling difference is visible in not only the averages but also the wickets per matches. Although on an average he bowls 51 overs at home as compared to 38 overs which could be reasoned to the higher reliance on pace attack outside India. With India going with a "3 pacers and Kumble" attack most of the time on pitches outside subcontinents, he has played lesser matches. But for a quality spinner like him, the difference of 2.3 wickets per match is little strange. Obviously, he has to toil harder on pitches abroad but he still manages to get a wicket in every 13 overs out of India as compared to every 10 overs in India.  Just that he proves to be a fraction expensive too but that is negligible.

Although he has complaied about the difference in the balls used at home and away which  causes the difference in the performance.

 
At home, Bhajji’s 62% of the wickets have come against Australia, West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe in 45% of the matches played at home. These countries are not regarded as highly as some of the other nations like Sri Lanka or Pakistan when playing Indian spinners in their own den is concerned.

Not surprisingly, his favourite opposition is Australia. If Ponting averages in the range of 12 in India, good amount of credit goes to Bhajji. He took 23 wickets in the 4 tests after those 2001 heroics which clearly suggest that 2001 success was not a fluke. Australians, look like surrendering to him as he needs just 7 overs to take each of their wickets. The very same bowler needs 13 overs to take a wicket against Pakistan. South Africa has always been vulnerable against quality spin on dusty tracks and Zimbabwe was never strong enough to face the spin music in India.

Leaving aside these four sides, he has taken 72 wicktes in 20 tests against rest 5 sides at 34 a piece in space of 13 overs. His biggest hurdles have been Pakistan without much surprise and New Zealand & England with little surprise. Bhajji has failed to trouble England and New Zealand in India. He needs 13 and 17 overs to take a wicket respectively against these teams and has taken 33 wickets together against these sides in 10 tests. Surely, these two sides are not as vulnerable against spinners, especially India’s second best, as they might be perceived.    

 
Although he has bowled well against Sri Lanka in India with 14 wickets in 3 matches needing 7.3 overs to take each wicket, it’s his record in Sri Lanka in 4 tests which is a little worrisome. He took 7 wickets in these 4 matches needing almost 20 overs to take a wicket. But that was at least 7 years back when Bhajji was relatively inexperienced. But this time he is experienced, has his place almost cemented in the side, Jayasuriya is retired from tests and Kumble is still present in the side with his deadly accuracy. This time, Bhajji needs to prove his worth at least in sub continent this time if not outside it.  Currently his record outside India is not worth discussing.

- Vibhash