Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recalled how he replied to constant sledding to current Australian coach and former cricketer Darren Lehmann’s sledding. Harbhajan Singh was fed up with Lehman’s sledding so he asked whether he is “pregnant” or not while pointing out his stomach.
Harbhajan Singh has had spats with many Australian players. He has given back to players like legendary pacer Glenn MacGrath too.
“Australians felt they were the biggest superstars, nobody can beat them, they always looked to dominate. But we were from a generation which was never docile. I come from Punjab and Punjabis by nature always speak their minds,” Harbhajan said.
“I was batting and (Darren) Lehmann was continuously sledging me. He had a huge stomach and his slack string used to hang out like Shakti Kapoor’s. I was so much perturbed over his sledging that I pointed towards his abdomen and asked: ‘Are you pregnant?’ Lehmann told this to Shane Warne who burst out laughing. Warne asked me whether I said this…’ Well, players shouldn’t have such huge stomachs,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying.
“(Glenn) McGrath sledged me a lot. He felt who’s this guy playing after I have dismissed top batsmen. I replied back. He used to sledge once, I replied thrice, he sledged twice, I replied five times. A time came when the Australians stopped sledging me,” said the out-of-favour off-spinner who has played in 103 Tests since making his debut in 1998.
Harbhajan Singh said former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was another player with whom he often had spats with though they were friends off the field.
“Shoaib abused me a lot. He used to sit with us, ate with us. Since he was too close to us, maybe he used to take us for granted. He challenged me once to hit a six and when I hit a six, he was shocked. He then bowled two consecutive bouncers which I evaded. He then abused me and I replied back. But after the game, we sat together as if nothing happened.
Shoaib once threatened me he would come to my room and beat me. I told him to come, let’s see who beats whom. I was really scared. He is a great hulk. He once bashed me and Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) inside a room. Since he was heavy, it was difficult to catch him,” Harbhajan said.
The Punjab off-spinner also talked about Virat Kohli’s aggressive attitude on the field. He feels Virat aggression will take India forward to achieve difficult heights.
“It’s good to see the way Virat conducts himself. I feel this is a brilliant way to take forward Indian cricket. Going to play with right body language, fighting it out for India with a zeal to get the right result, we need such a spirit which Virat has, whether it’s his own or he may have taken it from me. I feel it’s a great sign for Indian cricket, to take India to difficult heights,” he said.
“In my opinion today India faces a challenge from three big teams — South Africa, Australia, and England. I feel as far as other teams are concerned, we can win seven out of 10 matches against them.”
He was also asked how he felt playing against Pakistan, Harbhajan said, “As a player, I feel great after defeating a big team. In those days the Pakistan team was great, it had players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar.
For us, that used to be a special game, a special moment. I feel media creates too much hype for India-Pakistan matches.”
The offspinner also revealed he would his autobiography soon and any producer was welcome to make a biopic on his book.
On the new national coach Anil Kumble, Harbhajan said: “Anil Bhai is a man I respect a lot. I played with him for many years. I have learnt one thing from him — ‘In life don’t ever give up’. He was a cricketer with a serious bent of mind. He knows my mischievous nature. I don’t think he had any problems with me ever.”