\r\nPune, Feb 25 (CRICKETNMORE): Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who predicted a 4-0 verdict in favour of India in the run-up to the four-match Test rubber against Australia, on Saturday blamed the pitch for the home team's 333-run loss in the opening match at the Maharastra Cricket Association Stadium here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Virat Kohli-led home side succumbed to their fourth biggest Test loss after Australian left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe spun a web to take identical figures of 6\/35 in both the innings and break the pre-series favourites India's backbone within just three days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 36-year-old Harbhajan had earlier predicted India, who had thrashed New Zealand, England and Bangladesh recently, to win the series comfortably against the Australians.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Crediting the Kangaroos for pulling off a sensational win, Harbhajan said: "Credit to @CricketAus for playing unbelievable well on that wicket."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Punjab tweaker, however, had a go at the pitch, which remained slow and low throughout the course of the game and hoped that the teams get better tracks in the remaining three matches of the rubber. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: Loss against Australia a big learning for me, says Virat Kohli<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n "Let's hope we play on good tracks from here onwards and get the right results," he said on Twitter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif felt that the loss, a first at home since 2012 is a good wake-up call for the Indian side and said that too much of spin on the wicket could help both sides.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Kohli will be gutted with this performance. But it's good that the bad game is done with early. Can't see India repeating this," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Good wake up call this for India. Track with too much spin evens the advantage. Congratulations to Australia for a fantastic victory," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Hailing Australia skipper Steve Smith's defiant century in the second innings, former India opener Aakash Chopra said: Steve Smith's knock is the best that I've seen from an overseas skipper in India. Have you seen better?"<\/p>\r\n\r\n Many former Australian greats also took to Twitter to congratulate the team, which registered their first victory in the sub-continent after a long 13-year gap. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Hailing the side's performance, former fast bowler Jason Gillespie also had a word of caution for the young Kangaroo side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "This is awesome! Plenty of work to do yet for the Aussies though!" Gillespie wrote.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Former all-rounder Shane Watson congratulated the architects of the Australian win -- skipper Steve Smith and O'Keefe, saying: "Incredible Aussie performance in Pune. So happy for Steve O'Keefe! He has toiled so hard for this. stevesmith49 amazing 100 too."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Also Read: Steve Smith overwhelmed to end Australia's 13-year wait<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n Former skipper Michael Clarke wrote: "Congrats boys. Absolutely brilliant!"<\/p>\r\n\r\n Lauding the side, legendary wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist asked the Australians to celebrate the moment before preparing for the next game in Bengaluru.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Australia, you beauty! Celebrate like there is no tomorrow. Then tomorrow, start focusing on the next one," Gilchrist tweeted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n With Australia already 1-0 up in the four-match series, both the sides will face off in the second Test from March 4 in Bengaluru.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Take a bow @stevesmith49<\/a> that's an outstanding inn on that pitch actually no pitch..where it looks difficult to play every ball..IndvsAus<\/p>\r\n— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 25, 2017<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n