Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has applauded star India player Shubman Gill for marking his debut international game at his home ground in Mohali with a swashbuckling 74 against Australia on Friday, September 22. However, Gill was once again at his best, smashing 74 off just 63 balls as well. And, Harbhajan admired the array of strokes Gill played in the innings.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh said: “Shubman Gill showed what a typical Punjabi guy can do in his own den. He made great use of home conditions and scored a sensational 74. It’s never easy for anyone to perform when he comes into the team after a long time. But Gaikwad played really well. His partnership with Shubman Gill put Australia on the backfoot and the bowlers were left searching for answers.”

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However, Harbhajan Singh also backed Suryakumar Yadav as he believes Yadav could do a job for India at No. 6 because of his incredible T20 numbers. While the star T20 batter is yet to be consistent in ODIs, he finally scored a fine half-century against Australia as well.

Harbhajan stated: “I had told already that Suryakumar Yadav could play that role at No. 6 of a finisher and that’s exactly what he did. He came to bat at that position and ensured that he finished the game with a half-century.”

He has also lauded Mohammed Shami for his stunning figures of 5/51 against Australia in the first ODI in Mohali on Friday, September 22. Shami didn’t just strike with the new ball by removing Mitchell Marsh but also claimed the big wicket of Steve Smith in his second spell. He then scalped three more wickets at the death and finished with a fifer as well.

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“Mohammed Shami was brilliant once again. Just look at that seam position, so straight. I don’t think anyone in world cricket at the moment would have a seam position as good as Shami. Indian cricket is lucky to be in a stage where you have Bumrah, Siraj, too, who can bowl 150 kmph and also win the game on their day,” Harbhajan Singh concluded. “Taking five wickets is no mean feat, especially in Mohali where the pitch is always a batting paradise. This is brilliant for Indian cricket because Shami was the one who hadn’t played enough and now that he has played, he has performed brilliantly.”