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'Very bad losers': Harbhajan Singh re-ignites feud with Australia

Harbhajan Singh raises his hands and celebrates victory.
Harbhajan Singh celebrates victory after the match between Australia and India at the Gabba on March 4, 2008 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Indian spin great Harbhajan Singh has once again re-ignited his feud with Australia after singling out Glenn McGrath and the Aussies for being ‘very bad losers.’

Singh was speaking to current all-rounder Ravi Ashwin during his time in self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic when the topic of India’s incredible 2001 comeback win over the dominant Aussies popped up.

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Singh, who was later involved in a racial slur controversy involving Andrew Symonds, was speaking about his spell after Australia posted a whopping 445 first innings total at Eden gardens, before he took six-wickets and prompted an all-time collapse.

The Indians ended up winning the test in one of their greatest ever comeback wins.

But Singh didn’t hold back on his assessment of how he perceived the Aussies played the game and how they reacted after the loss.

“Australians are...they produced a lot of great players but are very bad losers,” he told Ashwin during the live chat.

“When it comes to losing a match from that situation...where they were, it must have given them a hard, hard time.

“That’s Australia for you. When they bowl, they feel everything is out. When they are facing it, they feel they are not out. They were not really happy about most of the decision.”

Harbhajan Singh walks past Andrew Symonds back to his bowling mark.
Harbhajan Singh walks past Andrew Symonds at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Singh takes dig at legend fast-bowler McGrath

Singh then took aim at Australian fast-bowling legend McGrath for his reaction when he was dismissed for the final wicket.

“It was straight in line, it was going to spin as well,” he said.

“I think if I see that now...with DRS, it would have hit the stumps for sure. But that’s McGrath for you.

“These things happen on the field. We have to accept it as a player. We don’t need to keep on crying about it.

“We now see some people say on Twitter that Gilchrist was not out. So what if he was not out? How many times have I got him out? If not the 1st ball, I could have got him out in the 2nd ball.”

India went on to claim the 2001 series 2-1.