Sachin Tendulkar turns saviour for a misfiring Harbhajan Singh

Genius effect: After all,the masterclass had to be one-on-one.

In a crisis you turn to your mentor even as late as the start of the India vs Australia Mohali Test. All Harbhajan Singh had to do was to look within the Indian camp and Sachin Tendulkar asked the off spinner to wait for the nets to end. After all,the masterclass had to be one-on-one.

The Indian players had been retreating to the home dressing room one by one but Tendulkar asked for a single stump and walked up to Harbhajan. They spent about five minutes chatting no secret who did all the talking and then Harbhajan marked his run up and began bowling at the stump. A few deliveries sent down,the Master asked for the ball and began showing a different grip and release to Harbhajan. It was an animated discussion,with Tendulkar spelling the need to use more wrist and pivot in the follow-through.

The off spinner has been struggling with his rhythm and confidence and experts have pointed out the lack of the old loop in his bowling.

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Barely had Tendulkar demonstrated the grip and release to him,and Harbhajan seemed to have understood his point and there it was.

Target practice

The Punjab offspinner,with the experience of 101 Test matches behind him,began hitting the single stump. Tendulkar smiled and nodded in approval. He again took the ball in his hand and himself bowled a couple,and Harbhajan picked up more cues from him.

And as Harbhajan,who has picked 25 wickets in the six Tests he has played at the PCA Stadium,went about his task,the duo were joined by former Punjab and India opener Vikram Rathore,also a national selector now.

Rathore spoke to Harbhajan and Tendulkar joined in the conversation. Rathore was the Punjab skipper when Harbhajan was starting in domestic cricket and both incidentally are from the same city,Jalandhar.

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Thirty minutes into this masterclass,the three then picked up their gear and began their walk back to the dressing room. And as they passed the pitch being given its final shape for the Test,Harbhajan may have seen how dry it looked,and how conducive it seemed to spin. Harbhajan will be keen to put to use Tendulkars suggestions. After all,he knows the value of this game for his career.