Virender Sehwag vouched Harbhajan Singh did not racially abuse Andrew Symonds in the acrimonious Sydney Test.
CANBERRA: Virender Sehwag vouched Harbhajan Singh did not racially abuse Andrew Symonds in the acrimonious Sydney Test but said India would not shy away from any tit-for-tat riposte to the abuses hurled at his teammates by the Australians.
Throwing his weight behind Harbhajan, who is fighting a three-match ban for allegedly racially abusing Symonds, Sehwag said the off-spinner did not say anything which could amount to racially abusing in Sydney.
"When two players have an argument they are bound to say something annoying but Harbhajan knows what to say and what not. I am sure he did not say anything racial," Sehwag said after India's practice match against ACT XI on Saturday.
The belligerent opener said it was heartening to see some of the players giving it back to the abrasive Australians.
"It is good that we have some youngsters who can give back what is hurled on them. They have the attitude and the confidence. I mean why should we take it lying down? We should pay them back and that's how it should be," he said.
"The world now knows that Indians would not keep mum, if somebody is going to attack them," he said.
Sehwag said Harbhajan had the backing of the entire team.
"In situation like this, we have always sticked together. All are backing him and the entire team is behind him as a unit. Everyone, including the board, is backing Harbhajan."
Sehwag said such an episode could have eroded the confidence of any other player but Harbhajan was a tough cricketer.
"Naturally you confidence level goes down as the whole world thinks what you have said, what you have done. You find yourself in the limelight but for all wrong reasons."
"But Harbhajan looks happy that the team is behind him. He is mentally very strong and I am sure he will come out of this," Sehwag said.
After all the hue and cry that surrounded the Sydney Test, Sehwag felt it might have an influence over the third Test in Perth as well.
"It might happen that nobody says a word to anybody in the next Test. We will play hard cricket but would like to see the cricket is played in its true spirit," he said.
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