Chat: Bhajji needed to be sent a strong message

Joe: With reports coming in the Bhajji was throw out of the NCA because of indiscipline when he was young and after 11 years he has still not improved. Every now and the then there is some controversy surrounding him. There is never smoke without fine. So from the time he started playing till now he is the same. Does this behaviour does not vindicate Hayden for his comments on Bhaji?

Gaurav Kalra: One of the fascinating things about Harbhajan is how he never seems to have made the transition from being "one of the boys" to a senior player he made his debut well before Sehwag and Dhoni and just a couple of years after Ganguly and Dravid yet he has always been regarded as someone who brings energy to the dressing room etc but not part of the think-tank a player with 11 years of experience should have graduated to greater things he hasn't and therein lies one of the dilemmas about Harbhajan Singh.

Krishna_rss: Do you have access to the videos of the whole scene? Without that how can we accept a ban on Bhajji of more than 10 matches?

Gaurav Kalra: No I haven't seen the video but Harbhajan himself accepts that he crossed the line so it pretty much settles the issue.

Hari: Do you think media is creating a hype around cricketers these days? In a way every broadcaster wants to have cricket headlines. Media is making cricketers pricey hence they show aloof attitude. Your thoughts?

Gaurav Kalra: Hari there is truth to what you say...there is an overkill of coverage and I accept that... Perhaps that has made cricketers figures of reverence and it can cause a level of arrogance...but in my interactions with the genuine greats; Kumble, Dravid, Ganguly etc I have observed that they have great poise and humility and they remain untouched by all this role models are around; we just have to look hard enough...

Bijulal D S: Hello Gaurav, don’t you think, Harbhajan having crossed the line now, people in Australia, especially Ponting and co will feel vindicated about their accusation.

Gaurav Kalra: Bijulal this is an important question... I covered the series in Australia and felt throughout that there was a strong belief in their system that Harbhajan had indeed crossed the line we don’t have any evidence to suggest he did use the word "monkey" but they do have a right to say "I told you so!"

More Headlines from Specials

• Indian cricketers celebrate nation's Beijing success

• India look to start on positive note

• Younis launches cricket team for disabled

• Has cricket become an individual's game?

• Colombo cafe a delight for cricket lovers