Harbhajan Singh believes the furore in Sydney galvanised the team and was catalyst behind India's stunning win against Australia in the third Test at Perth.
MELBOURNE: Star spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the furore in Sydney galvanised the team and was catalyst behind India's stunning win against Australia in the third Test at Perth.
Fighting a three-match ban for an alleged racist remark to Andrew Symonds in the ill-tempered Sydney Test, Harbhajan said the team stood united in the hour of crisis and the result was before all to see.
"Obviously it was a big factor, because when something like that happens, everybody feels they have something to prove," Harbhajan was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.
"And I think the boys proved that in beating Australia," he said.
The Indian team had reasons to feel hurt after the Sydney Test, where they were hit hard by poor umpiring and felt slighted by the unsporting conduct of Ricky Ponting and his men.
But buoyed after the Perth win, the off-spinner said India was capable of upstaging the hosts again in the fourth and final Test at Adelaide.
"We are one unit. Whether we win or lose, we do it together. We are a team that can beat Australia on any given day, and we will now look to continue that momentum into Adelaide" he said.
"It is always special to beat the number one side in the world, but it is now important we build on this momentum and even the series in Adelaide. It is not up to me whether I play in Adelaide, but I do know that whatever team we put out, it will be good enough to win the game," Harbhajan added.
Harbhajan is free to play while his appeal against the ban is pending. Though he did not play in Perth, the spinner is eyeing a berth in Adelaide.
And once the Test series is over, Harbhajan's case would be heard by New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen.
"I am not going to talk about that," Harbhajan said, refusing to dwell on the fate of his appeal.
"I will let the relevant cricketing bodies handle these matters. I would just like to thank everybody who came and supported me and the team when there was a bit of drama happening," he said.
The belligerent spinner said India played hard cricket and had always been a threat to Australia.
"There are teams out there who can beat Australia, and we have shown every time we have played them that we are one of those.
"It is never one-way when we play them, because we play hard cricket," he said.
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