NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressed relief over Abhishek Sharma regaining full fitness, saying the attacking opener’s return could be crucial in countering Pakistan’s unconventional spinner Usman Tariq during their T20 World Cup clash on Sunday.

Tariq’s spell against Indian batters at the R Premadasa Stadium is expected to draw attention, especially due to his distinctive pause before release and slingy bowling action.

“See, he's someone that I have seen him bowl in ILT20, where he was a pick of the bowlers. Whenever he got the opportunity to play in the semifinal and the final, he was the man-of-the-match. He is different from the other spinners and has a lot of variations,” Harbhajan told PTI.

“People are talking about him for his stand and deliver action. It’s not easy. You know, anybody can stand and bowl, but you've got to have different variations, which he's got and he's hard to hit in bigger grounds and slower pitches.

“So, all I want to say is that be a little bit mindful when you're playing against someone whom you have never faced before. India can tackle him and not give him any big wicket. It's good to see Abhishek coming back, who plays spin really well and dominates (spin), throughout his innings,” he added.

Abhishek’s Spin Prowess in Focus

But what exactly does Abhishek — who recently recovered from a stomach infection that ruled him out of the Namibia fixture in New Delhi — bring to the table against quality spin?

“Abhishek is a quality player. He is a player who is determined to win the match on his own. I have played a lot of cricket. I know that he is a proper batsman who has all the shots.

"A lot of batsmen do not have all the shots. He (Abhishek) is not like that. He hits the first ball. And as long as he is on the crease, he keeps hitting. So, he is a proper batsman,” he noted.

Focus on Cricket, Not Controversy

Harbhajan also urged both sides to move past the off-field noise surrounding the high-profile encounter and focus purely on the contest.

“Of course, there were a lot of hurdles before this game, whether this game will happen or not. But all that is done. Now, the focus should be on cricket, which is the main part. Of course, I'm hoping that India will play well in this game.

“Pakistan is also a very strong team, especially in these conditions with their spinners bowling really well. So, I think it's going to be a great game to watch,” he said.

The veteran off-spinner, who has claimed 711 international wickets, also felt there is no need to overemphasise customary gestures such as handshakes before or after the game.

“That is entirely the player's wish. It is not written in any book that after a match, a handshake should be done or a hug should be given. So, play the match. Play with all your strength.

“If you feel that after that the handshake should be done or a hug should be given…it’s fine. If we talk about Australia and England players, they sit together after the match. Cricket should be seen as cricket,” he said.

The 45-year-old further expressed hope that the Premadasa surface delivers a competitive contest between bat and ball.

“If there is a little grass on it, then the seamers will also come in handy. This field is bigger than the rest of the fields and the pitch here is usually good for the batsmen. If there is an India-Pakistan match here, the curators will also want some runs.

“And we hope that it will be such a pitch that in which the batsmen will also do well and a little help there will be for the fast bowlers and spinners. So, it is necessary to have a battle of bat and ball,” said Harbhajan.

(With PTI Inputs)