World Cricket Player News: India’s Harbhajan Singh ready to take captaincy, if offered
Harbhajan Singh, India’s leading spin bowler said that he is ready to take the responsibilities of captain or vice captain if offered by the board. Harbhajan nicked as Bhajji, has an experience of more than eleven years at international cricket and is one of the senior most players of the current Indian team.
Harbhajan was the captain of Mumbai Indians in the inaugural Indian Premier League but has never been given a chance to lead the national team despite his match winning role in several matches - with both bat and ball.
He said that he will get the role as captain or vice-captain when his time comes. He further added that he has brought up the matter time and again, that he is available and that if any such opportunities come his way, he would be honoured to assume such a role.
"As you said, I have not got my dues, so probably I will when that time comes. I have seen Anil Kumble retiring. He was the captain of India for two years. For me it will be the same thing. Let's see, who knows," said the spinner while talking to the media.
Harbhajan, who is leading the spin bowler of India these days, acknowledged the task on his shoulders and said his responsibility was to prepare upcoming spinners of India in the way once he was guided by Anil Kumble. He said he is a kind of person who in fact deems that he has to win the game. He appreciated the skills of young spinners Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin and said that he thinks it is his responsibility to show them the way.
Harbhajan, after his match winning performance against the arch rival Pakistan in recently concluded Asia Cup, was mentioned as an all-rounder by the fans and the cricket experts. However, his modesty has compelled him to turn down the gossips of him being an all rounder.
"I am not an all-rounder. There was only one all-rounder that India produced and that is Kapil Dev," Harbhajan said. "I don't think after Kapil Dev any al-lrounder came. But I am definitely someone who can work with the bat. I have worked really hard on it thanks to Gary Kirsten and other team-mates."
The Jalandhar off spinner represents Indian Cricket Team in all three formats of international cricket – Test, ODI and T20, and has been pretty successful in all the three forms. His 355 Test wickets in just 83 matches is the second-highest number of wickets taken by any off-spinner. He stands second to only magical spinner of Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan. He is the lone Indian bowler to record a hat-trick in a Test match. Twenty four times, he bagged five wickets in a test match. His best Test bowling recorded till day is 8/84. He bagged eight wickets in Kolkata Test levelling the test series and driving India to the No.1 ranking in five-dayers. So far, Harbhajan has played 209 ODIs and has sacked the batsmen 239 times at a bowling average of 32.80. At three occasions, he took five wickets in a one day match. His best ODI bowling is 5/31.
The leading spinner of India admitted that the early oust of India from the World T20 in the West Indies was a setback but he said, the criticism that the team faced was gratuitous.
He said that Playing for the country was his foremost desire and is honoured that he is representing India internationally. He said that what he is today is just because he is playing for his country.
On a personal note, he said that he is eyeing on the 2011 world cup for the time being. He said that obviously the time has come where he should bring someone for his mother whom she could talk with. He said his mom is waiting for a “bahu” (daughter-in-law)
“Yes, definitely I'll think about it after the World Cup. By next July, who knows, I may be married,” said Harbhajan.
With the Indian captain MS Dhoni getting married just a few days before, Harbhajan’s fan can also expect a “bhabi” soon.