Some defeats sting not just because of the result but because they expose gaps a team may have been ignoring for too long. India’s loss in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur felt like one of those moments. Despite putting up a massive 358, inspired by Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s first, India watched the total disappear under the lights, the dew and the pressure. And for Harbhajan Singh, the most worrying part was not just the loss, it was the bowlers missing from the picture.
The former India off-spinner voiced his frustration about Mohammed Shami being absent from the ODI setup, questioning why an experienced and proven match-winner had been pushed aside. He argued that India cannot lean on Jasprit Bumrah alone and must learn to win games even when their spearhead isn’t available. For that, he stressed, the team needs to preserve and trust bowlers who have delivered in the past rather than sidelining them.
Raipur highlighted the problem clearly. Aiden Markram’s excellent 110, Dewald Brevis’ explosive 54 off 34, and Matthew Breetzke’s composed 68 guided South Africa through a chase that seemed daunting at the start. Even late wickets couldn’t stop Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj from calmly sealing the match. India’s attack offered little resistance. Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets but leaked 85 runs at a very expensive rate, while Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar struggled to make an impact.
Harbhajan reminded fans of India’s tour of England, where Mohammed Siraj, also missing from the ODI squad, was outstanding in the absence of Bumrah. He noted how Siraj helped India win Tests even without their star pacer, demonstrating how crucial it is to identify and nurture bowlers who can step up when needed. While he acknowledged Kuldeep Yadav’s growth, he stressed the importance of finding more wicket-taking options in both pace and spin.
His message was clear — experience matters, especially in pressure moments. And if India wants stronger, more reliable results in white-ball cricket, they must reconsider how they treat bowlers like Shami and Siraj not as backups but as vital parts of the attack.
