Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the defending champions remain favourites for the blockbuster clash with Pakistan men’s national cricket team, but he warned India must be cautious against the mystery and guile of Usman Tariq. Speaking after India’s comfortable win over Namibia, Harbhajan urged the batting unit to stay calm, trust its process and pick their moments against tricky spin rather than panic.
His caution was informed by the way Namibia’s skipper Gerhard Erasmus troubled India with clever variations in Delhi. The associate team’s discipline showed there are no easy nights, and Harbhajan noted that such performances serve as useful reminders ahead of a match in which Pakistan could unleash multiple spinners.
“India will win the match. Pakistan has a spinner (Usman Tariq), who is good; we have to play him safely. The Indian team is capable; it is a very good team,” he told the media, urging players to back their skills and play free of pressure. His message was simple: respect the threat but don’t allow it to dictate intent.
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That line was echoed by wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who insisted India’s prep remains straightforward. “No, I think we’ve already done the preparation part. Now it’s just about watching the ball and playing our natural game,” he said after the Namibia win, stressing basics — watching the ball, rotating the strike and backing one’s technique — over exotic countermeasures.
Tariq’s pause-and-payoff action and Erasmus’ inventive releases underline the same problem: modern spinners are less about one lethal delivery and more about manufacturing doubt. The coaching staff’s job is now tactical: rehearse soft hands, singles under pressure and mid-over scenarios on big grounds, rather than frantic power-hitting from ball one.
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With the marquee meeting set in Colombo, where pitches can grip and tweak, India must convert video study into instinctive responses. If they can do that — keep calm, pick simple solutions and trust their skill set — Harbhajan’s optimism about India winning the game should hold true. But underestimate the spin challenge at your peril.
