India vs South Africa: Harbhajan's Experience Will Come in Handy in Cuttack, says Sunil Gavaskar

He may have been warming the bench for a while now, but Harbhajan Singh found some support in the form of former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, who felt that the off-spinner is a far better player to be sitting on the sidelines. (Bad Overs Towards the End Cost India the Match: MS Dhoni)

"Harbhajan Singh is far more experienced and this is a crucial game (Cuttack T20Is) and he has bowled in far more tense and pressure game than a young Axar Patel," Gavaskar told NDTV in an exclusive chat on Monday. (India Are Stronger After Loss in First T20I: Rohit Sharma)

"And (in the first T20 in Dharamsala) we saw Axar Patel panicked after being hit for a six, and there were two more sixes, which took the game away from India. So until the pitch has got something in it, Axar (Patel) becomes a bit more predictive, his line is same, his length is same, the speed at which he bowls is same," Gavaskar said of India's 21-year-old spinning home from Gujarat.

Patel, who was torn apart by JP Dumniy, was taken for 22 runs, which included three sixes in his final and 16th over of the South African innings, which turned the tide in visitor's favour. India lost by seven wickets.

The 66-year-old Gavaskar felt that Bhajji has enough variations and bowls a tight line in the closing stages of the game.    

"Harbhajan can vary his speed, and he has got the doosra and the floater and he bowls right under the bat in the final stages of the innings when the batsmen are looking to get distance between bat and ball.

"I think his experience his come in handy in this crucial game," Gavaskar added.

India were blown away by Duminy's match-winning 34-ball 68, in the first T20 in Dharamsala as South Africa chased down a challenging 200 with two balls to spare.

In an earlier interview, Gavaskar said that India shouldn't view Patel as an alternative spinner.

"Axar is not an alternative spinner India should be looking for. He just rolls the ball, he does not have the flight and his deliveries are very much predictable. He does not turn the ball unless the pitch is favourable. He is slightly slower than medium pace," Gavaskar had told NDTV couple of months ago.

The former India captain was quite happy with the seam attack that India have at the current moment and felt it's too early to judge Sreenath Aravind, who made his debut in Dharamsala.

"Despite the fact he (Aravind) bowled a full toss, which was hit for a six in the final over, he generally bowled well. He has got a good yorker, but he's got to practice it and if you get it wrong it can be sent into the stands.

"But he is one who has done well in the IPL and T20 has bowled well in the final overs. So it's a matter of him getting the confidence and once he gets the confidence, I think he will do a good job.