Harbhajan’s too flat to be effective, Irfan just fell apart: Vengsarkar

• What does the future hold for Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar who have been dropped from both ODIs and Tests for Bangladesh?

They are all fine cricketers and have proved themselves at the highest level. The only thing they will have to prove consistently is their form and I am positive they will be back where they belong.

• Harbhajan Singh’s performance in the last few years have been dismal overseas. Your comments.

Harbhajan has been around for a long time and could be considered as a senior pro. He knows what is best for him but I guess he will have to go for the wickets especially in the ODIs in the middle overs like Shane Warne or Muttiah Muralitharan does. I feel it is the job of spinners to get the wickets and not focus on containing the batsmen. Harbhajan is bowling too flat to be be effective. He needs to change his trajectory.

• Do you think Irfan Pathan can be back to what he was before his form dipped? What is the best way out for him?

Irfan had done exceedingly well till the India-England game in the Champions’ Trophy. I really do not know what went wrong after that. His bowling just fell apart. He has not only lost his pace but also the movement that got him a lot of wickets initially. He will have to get the experts’ advice, work hard and get his rhythm back.

• Are you disappointed at Ajit Agarkar not being able to fulfill the potential that he showed when he burst on the scene?

Ajit is an enigma. He has loads of talent but I feel he has under-utilised it so far. By now he should have established himself as an frontline all-rounder but the fact is, he hasn’t. After playing so much international cricket, I am sure he knows the answer.

• How difficult or easy is it going to be against Bangladesh who have shown that they have the ability to do well at least in one-dayers by not only beating India but also South Africa in the World Cup?

Well, Bangladesh’s performance in the World Cup was beyond anybody’s imagination. They have been around in the international circuit for as long as ten years but I guess at present they are playing their best cricket. Surely, they have the home advantage and I am sure they will try to exploit it at the earliest opportunity.

• Don’t you think we need a regular opener for the tours of England where the ball would be moving a lot and on the bouncy and pacy Australian pitches? Would Dinesh Kaarthick, picked to do the job in Tests in Bangladesh, be able to do this job?

Dinesh is a talented batsman-wicket keeper. I have been watching him since his under-19 days. He is not only a gritty customer but also very courageous. His innings at Cape Town (on India’s tour of South Africa) was testimony of all these qualities. Besides Dinesh, there is Robin Uthppa, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra. Youngsters like Cheteshwar Pujara, Tanmay Srivatsav and Ajinkya Rahane could form the India A team and they are players for the future.

• What’s your reading of the coming tour of England? The hosts have been whitewashed in Australia and dumped out of the World Cup. Is it going to be a tough series for India?

England in England will be a tough proposition. They are a very good side at home. Their World Cup performance was quite good and they have some young promising players in their line up.