Tough days ahead of Harbhajan Singh

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Though off-spinner Harbhajan Singh started his international career under the big shadow of champion leg-spinner Anil Kumble, he came into his own during the Test series against Australia in 2001. Bhajji became the toast of the country when he took 32 wickets in that series and helped India register a 2-1 win over Aussies. He was bestowed the nickname 'Turbanator' for his exploits in that series and soon he became the front-line spinner for India ahead of Anil Kumble.
 
However, Bhajji couldn't hold the position of No. 1 spinner in the Indian cricket team for long. With the emergence of spinners such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhajji soon found himself sidelined from the team. His ouster also had much to do with his declining form.
 
With age catching up on this great off-spinner, Bhajji needs to turn it around and come back a better bowler. Time is surely running out for the 'Turbanator '.
 
The South Africa Test series is just a couple of months away. The Ranji season is over and with no domestic matches of real substance being played in the country, it is not going to be easy for the off-spinner to make a comeback into Team India.
 
Besides, youngsters, who have replaced him, have done well in the last couple of months. Ashwin has become the leading spinner for India at the moment with Ravindra Jadeja and Pragyan Ojha giving him good support. Bhajji, going by the current scenario, doesn't even feature in the list of top five spinners in the country. Amit Mishra and Rahul Sharma rank higher than Bhajji on current form.
 
Moreover, Bhajji's form has dipped alarmingly with hardly any wickets to show in the last few Tests he has played for India. Barring IPL, Bhajji has been quite ordinary. It seems he has lost that loop or flight which used to get him wickets earlier.
 
Bhajji needs to find an answer as soon as possible or else he might have to kiss his chances of playing for India again a goodbye.