Harbhajan's Bold Analysis: From Gavaskar to Kohli - The Journey of Indian Cricket Legends

Kohli and Rohit were two of the senior Indian players who decided to opt out of playing in the Duleep Trophy, choosing to focus on the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Kohli, in particular, has struggled to replicate his exceptional form in Test cricket in recent years, with only two centuries to his name in the last four years. Both of those centuries were scored last year, and in the five Tests he has played so far in 2024, Kohli has only managed to pass the fifty-run mark once.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that while age of the senior players tends to be a factor when questions arise about their form, it really starts coming under the scanner only when the team starts losing. "Look age is a factor for some in this team but then Virat and Jaddu are extremely fit guys. Yes, age, fitness and form are criteria but the questions crop up once you start losing. The onus obviously comes on seniors in the team. It happened in that phase," he is quoted as saying by PTI.

Harbhajan has also said that anyone can be replaced in the Indian team, as has been proven by the fact that the side has had a succession of great batters over decades.

“Who said that replacements can't be found? (Sunil) Gavaskar saab gaye, (Sachin) Tendulkar saab aaye, Tendulkar saab gaye, humein Kohli mila aur bhavishya mein bhi aisa hoga. (Gavaskar came and went, Tendulkar came and went, we got Kohli and we will get someone in the future as well),” said the 44-year-old, who shared the Indian team dressing room with a young Kohli and Rohit and an ageing Tendulkar in a transitional phase for the side.

Harbhajan further said that there is enough talent in domestic cricket and it is important to give those players opportunities at the right time. "How did you get Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and now Sarfaraz Khan. It is from domestic cricket only. It is about getting right opportunities at right time.

"If you get chance at right time, you can become Virat Kohli or else you could be Amol Mujumdar or Amarjeet Kaypee," said Harbhajan, who took 700 international wickets and was part of the Indian teams that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup.

"It took Virat 15 years to become what he has become. So you need to look at the talent and may be have an idea that, yes, this boy, if persisted with, can become a match-winner for a decade.

“When we were playing, we heard that Rohit is an enormous talent. How did people know? Because of domestic cricket, and even after first few years of inconsistency, the system backed him. So we will get replacements,” said Harbhajan.