New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): Former Australian captain Adam Gilchrist feels that Harbhajan Singh will be missed by India during their tour Down Under as the feisty off-spinner can get under the skin of the champion team.
Harbhajan's slump in form has paved the way for two young spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha to be picked for the four-Test series against Australia.
"Bhajji is a great competitor, his fighting qualities are admirable, he is very much like an Australian that way. He will be missed. But a player has to be picked on performances," Gilchrist told reporters when asked about the exclusion of the turbanator.
"Ashwin and Ojha have set very high standards," he added.
India's tour to Australia starts Dec 26 and with both teams fielding new faces in their bowling attack.
Gilchrist feels that the bowlers will play the key role in deciding the series.
"It is a series that's quite difficult to predict. Both teams are equal, the batting of both the teams are the strong points, while injury has plagued both the bowling line-ups."
"Whichever bowling line-up settles down first that team will have the upper hand," Gilchrist said on the sidelines of a promotional campaign on behalf of University of Wollongong in New South Wales.
India will be taking an inexperienced bowling attack, with the likes of Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and Abhimanyu Mithun, all touring Australia for the first time.
Australia, on the other hand, are having an injury crisis with Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Pat Cummins and Shane Watson currently side-lined.
Gilchrist felt that India-Australia contests are of high intensity and among the best sporting rivalries in the world.
"The rivalry between India-Australia is terrific. I was a part of the 2001 series and it was one of the best series ever."
"Any series India play is an interesting one, the Indian people are very passionate about he sport. I love coming to India it's a fascinating country."
"I continue to come stay here 2-3 months every year with the IPL and other things," he said.