At a time when the tribe of off-spinners is struggling to keep its identity, watching two top class off-spinners bowl in tandem was a rare and pleasing sight. Old timers, of course, would recall the healthy times when India gained immensely from the services of skilful off-spinners like Erapalli Prasanna and S. Venkataraghavan.
Picking Harbhajan Singh and R. Ashwin for the Bangladesh tour was a conscious decision by the Indian selectors as the home team’s line-up featured several left-handers.
Previously Harbhajan, who has also shared space with Sarandeep Singh in one Test against England in 2001, and Ashwin have bowled together in three Test matches, the last occasion being India’s innings victory over Australia at Hyderabad two years ago.
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They had also played in the previous Test of the series against Australia in Chennai where India had recorded an eight-wicket victory. The first time they had bowled in tandem was in a losing cause in November 2012 against England in Mumbai.
This is the first occasion that Harbhajan and Ashwin have operated together outside India.
Before taking the field in the Test here, Ashwin had given glimpses of how they might go about the job. “We are different kind of off-spinners. He (Harbhajan) will add a lot of value, he has got a lot of experience. That will bring a different dimension to the whole team.
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“We bowl at different speeds, we have different strengths and weaknesses. It is about trying and complementing each other and trying to bowl to a particular plan. It is not going to be very different from how one approaches the game. I can do only what comes to me and he can do the same.”
With Bangladesh going steady on the back of some fine batting display by Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque on the fourth day of the one-off Test here on Saturday, it was not surprising to see touring skipper Virat Kohli rely on his two spinners.
Harbhajan, who coincidentally made a comeback to the side after the 2013 Hyderabad Test against the Aussies, looked to be more consistent with his line, length and flight. Ashwin, with his unorthodox action, was more dynamic even while giving a nice loop to his deliveries and extracting decent spin and bounce.
The two bowled in tandem from the 24th over to make the momentum shift India’s way. They gave Bangladesh a dose of its own medicine by drying up the runs.
Returning for his second spell, Ashwin — who had already provided the breakthrough by claiming Tamim Iqbal in his third over — bowled two maiden overs. With Harbhajan striking a disciplined line at the other end, Mominul, quiet for eight overs, attempted a big hit and perished.
In the next over, Ashwin accounted for Mominul’s replacement, captain Mushfiqur Rahim, with a classic dismissal and tightened the screws further and executed his team’s plans well.
When the country is facing a scarcity of off-spinners, with only a few names such as Parveez Rasool and Swarupam Purakayastha ruling the domestic scene, the impressive show put up by Harbhajan and Ashwin may inspire a generation to take to the art.