Twelve years of roller coaster cricket, Harbhajan Singh the zealous and often fanatical cricketer, is yet to recognize his talents in the trade, perhaps. At least, Mutthiah Muralitharan, the phenomenal off-spinner of the modern era entertains a thought that is not so far from this. Bemused? You are entitled to. The sardar has 355 test wickets at 30.94 from 83 tests. The great Dennis Lillie and Malcolm Marshall crossed the same barrier in 70 tests.

In winning matches for his country, if he is second, it is just because of the overshadowing influence of a colossal presence in the form of certain AR Kumble for the first decade of his career.

Yet what marks the first reference?

Simple. Murali who just recently commented that it is only the turbanator, he thinks could over take the 800+ landmark that he is likely to set others to cross. It is hard to stretch the imagination that far as the years left for Bhaji is too enormous a factor to be ignored. 800 is a far cry for the thirty-year-old off-spinner largely because of the fact that he would need at least 60 wickets per year for the rest of his career.

At the current rate, he might need 13-15 test matches a year if he has to entertain any hope of reaching that far. His present average is a shade under 7 which had been an even par average for the Indian cricket team for the last 20 years or so. So where would Harbhajan end up? Well, where he is destined.

What went wrong? Was he a gross underperformer? Nay…..

There is a theory that is pertaining to cricketers that they mature at an age of 30. Hence, the stage may be set for a second take off. And this time around very much like Murali he has none alongside him to threaten and grab a share. It is all the more a fight for himself now. A fight that he has not been on the winning side always.

Eight hundred is an illusive landmark. It might well be an elusive one as well. Further, it is all the more illogical to have a run for that, as Murali has been the lone spinner of the Sri Lankan line-up for the better part of his career. Hurling down enormous number of deliveries innings after innings for over 16 years now.

Bhaji has to head in a different direction. He has less bowling responsibilities to handle with as compared to Muralitharan, but a higher degree of pressure on performance from his fellow countrymen than his opposite number does.

It is all about handling the pressure, they say, don’t they?