'Once we start winning we will be a difficult side to beat'
'Eden is always a very special ground for all of us. If we win here, we will take that confidence into the ODI series'
Despite India being down 0-2 in the three-match Twenty20 series against South Africa, ace spinner Harbhajan Singh says it's too early to write the team off.
"We have lost the series, but we still have a lot to play (for) in the final game. Hopefully, we will win tomorrow and from there onward it could be a different story," Harbhajan told reporters, on the eve of the third and final T20, which will be played at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Thursday.
"The ODIs are coming up and then the Tests. We want to play our best game tomorrow and we want to put up our best show. Once we start winning we will be a difficult side to beat," he added.
After the T20 series, India and South Africa play five ODIs, followed by four Tests on the 72-day Freedom Series tour.
Citing the example of the recently-concluded Test series in Sri Lanka, where India bounced back to emerge triumphant after losing the first match, Harbhajan said: "It was because of the relief that we had.
"Every game is a challenge for us from here on. Yes, we have lost the series and we didn't play as well as we should have, but Eden is always a very special ground for all of us.
"Obviously, winning here will mean a lot to us. We will go out there and give it our best shot. If we win here, we will take that confidence into the ODI series."
India failed to defend 200 in the first T20 Dharamsala, while in the next they were skittled out for 92, their second lowest total.
"I don't think we need to worry too much about the losses in our last two games. We are hurt by those losses but going forward and talking about the World Twenty20," he said.
India's highest wicket-taking off-spinner, said it's about backing the spinners ahead of the next year's World Twenty20.
"I think it is important to back the players who are probably the best players for the format. This has been the quality of this team; they have stuck to the players who they believe can win the game.
"That is what we need to do as a team. We need to reunite ourselves and give our best performance."
Looking ahead to the World Twenty20, Harbhajan said the spinners will have to play a huge role for India to regain the title won in 2007.
"Spin has been India's strength and, obviously, we will be playing the competition in India and lot of the tracks will be supporting the slower bowlers.
"If you see the records in the IPL and other sort of T20 tournaments we have played, mostly, spinners are the ones who take a lot of wickets and control the runs in the middle.
"T20 is all about taking wickets rather than just restricting the batsmen. I think spinners have a major role to play if India has to win the World T20. We have got four spinners in the team and all four have done well when they have got the opportunity. I am sure it is going to be a very exciting time to look forward to."
Besides their incisive bowling, South Africa’s fielding was brilliant, accounting for four dismissals in the first two matches.
While Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu were run-out in Dharamsala, the dismissals of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Cuttack changed the complexion of the game.
"The last game was not a perfect game for us. We lost two wickets to run-outs and they (South Africa) fielded brilliantly. We took our chances against their fielders but it didn't go our way," Harbhajan said, adding it is all about playing positive cricket.
"In this format you have to push the fielders and, obviously, we have got some quick runners between the wickets. We have the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and MS (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni himself who are all brilliant runners between the wickets.
"In Dharamsala it was a different story; we had two runs for the taking most of the times. We wanted to challenge their fielders and that is what you call playing positive cricket."
Asked whether Ajinkya Rahane stands a chance of getting a look-in, Harbhajan replied: "Rahane is a quality player and there is no doubt about it.
"All depends on the team management as to what they feel will be the best team combination to win the game and going forward. Let's see what they decide, but, as I said, Rahane is a quality player; that is all I can say.
"I don't know if there will be a change or not because I am not part of the decision-making. One thing I can assure is every player in the playing eleven will go for one motive and that is to win the game for India."
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