I think Kuldeep Yadav should stop taking Man of the Match awards to not get dropped: Harbhajan Singh
New Delhi, Dec 22: Kuldeep Yadav's shocking exclusion from the Indian team for the second Test against Bangladesh after his last match heroics has made Harbhajan Singh wonder if the left-arm wrist spinner "would be better off" if he is not winning 'player of the match' awards.
Kuldeep, who made a return to Test cricket after 22 months, took a match haul of eight wickets including a career-best 5/40 and scored 40 crucial runs only to be dropped for the ongoing second game in Mirpur to accommodate Saurashtra seamer Jaydev Unadkat in the playing eleven.
Harbhajan, one of India's greatest spinners, was completely baffled by the call to drop Kuldeep.
"I think from now on, Kuldeep should stop taking five-wicket hauls. Who knows that he might just get to play two Test matches in a row!" a sarcastic Harbhajan told PTI when his reaction was sought.
"Like last time when he got a five-for, before Chattogram Test, was against Australia in Sydney (5/99) in different conditions. He was supposed to be India's No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions but he had to wait for more than two years to play a Test.
"Now he played after nearly two years again and has been dropped again. Would love to know the rationale," said Harbhajan, one of the four Indian bowlers to have taken 400-plus wickets.
While Umesh Yadav and comeback man Unadkat got six wickets between them, the pitch wasn't a seamer's paradise. R Ashwin also got four wickets. The pitch was offering assistance to spinners as Bangladesh skipper Shkib Al Hasan got a few to turn square.
The 'Turbanator' also felt that "security" has just become a word in Indian cricket and no one is walking the talk.
"I don't want to name any player but some of the players in the Test set-up got a long rope, up to five years. In case of Kuldeep, it seems that the duration of his security is five days.
"How does one feel safe if he gets dropped after taking eight wickets. Can he play fearless cricket when all that the team management has done is to instil fear in him?" questioned Harbhajan.
Harbhajan said while he would agree that Bangladesh aren't the most formidable side in Test format but a performer being benched is likely to send a wrong message among youngsters.
"You can never perform if there is a sword hanging over your head. I only hope that Kuldeep doesn't lose confidence because of this as he is someone who should be serving India for another good 8-10 years," he added.
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Hoax bomb threat emails spark security alert at Karnataka government offices; no explosives found
Karwar/Tumakuru: Government offices in three Karnataka towns were placed on high alert on Tuesday after bomb threat emails were received by the tahsildar offices in Karwar and Bhatkal, and the deputy commissioner’s office in Tumakuru.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, police officials said all three emails originated from a single email ID and contained claims of “revenge from Tamilians and Pakistanis.” Following the threats, security agencies immediately swung into action and the premises were evacuated and thoroughly searched.
Teams from the local police, bomb disposal squad and dog squad were deployed at all locations. Authorities have confirmed that no suspicious objects or explosives were found. They called the threats a hoax, after extensive checks.
Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan M N said precautionary measures were taken as per protocol to ensure public safety. “A detailed search was conducted at all the mentioned offices, but nothing incriminating was found,” he said.
Police have begun efforts to trace the source of the emails and identify the sender while security around key government buildings in the affected districts was heightened as a precaution, officials added.
