Harbhajan must go back to domestic cricket: Bedi

Former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi reacted with caution on Harbhajan Singh’s axing from India’s squad even as he advised the off-spinner to get back to domestic circuit to get his form back.

The selectors on Thursday dropped Harbhajan from the first two ODIs against England and included rookie leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, who impressed in the last IPL.  Although he was ignored from the national team, Harbhajan was named captain of the India Green team in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy to be held in Nagpur from October 10 to 13. “I have nothing to say on this (Harbhajan’s axing) because there is a selection committee to decide on this. But will it be appropriate to say he is thrown out instead of dropped?,” Bedi, himself a former left-arm spinner, asked sarcastically.

“I don’t know whether leaving out Harbhajan is the right decision, time will only tell but quite a few new names have been thrown in. Let’s hope the youngsters will avail of this opportunity,” Bedi said on the occasion of the launch of his biography ‘Bishen: Portrait of a Cricketer’, written by Suresh Menon.