Harbhajan Singh has struck form at the right time. The veteran off spinner first made his comeback in tests, against Bangladesh and had a fruitful outing in Fatullah. The icing on the cake for the Turbanator has been that now he has been recalled in the Indian limited overs squad as well. Harbhajan was named in the limited overs squad for the tour of Zimbabwe.
Harbhajan was a key member of India’s 2011 World Cup winning team. He last played an ODI for India against West Indies in the Caribbean in 2011. Bhajji’s last T20I outing for India came against Australia in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Since then, Harbhajan was sidelined from the limited overs set up.
Harbhajan spoke like a relieved man after being selected in the limited overs squad. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that I will be wearing this blue jersey again,” Harbhajan said. “I don’t know anything apart from playing cricket. This is all I have done in my life and I am happy that I can again try and give my all for India,” Harbhajan said.
On being questioned about his performance in the one off test against Bangladesh, Bhajji said, “That the national selectors would be able to tell you. For me, the aim was to give my 200 per cent in India jersey after a comeback. I had prepared hard for that match.”
“I believe cricket has a similarity with academics. A student studies day and night for his exams after 10 months. The only difference is for a cricketer, there is an exam every third day and you have to be well prepared for every exam. I feel that Zimbabwe series is another exam and I am studying hard to excel,” he said. “If you ask me, there is always pressure when you are making a comeback. As you cross different levels, the pressure increases. That’s what happens from junior cricket to first class to international cricket.”
“I have always believed in exchange of ideas. I believe that it is my responsibility to help the new crop of cricketers, guide them with my experience and also at the same time learn from them. Cricket is like life. You never stop learning. Till the day, I would play this game, I would not like to stop learning,” concluded Harbhajan.