Harbhajan Singh

India’s leading off-spinner talks to us ahead of the three-match Test series against South Africa.

Monday, March 17, 2008

"We have the edge over SA," says the 'Turbanator'

Just back from an eventful and successful tour of Australia, Harbhajan Singh is confident of putting up a good show against the current number one ODI team, South Africa, in the three-Test series starting this month. The spin duo of Bhajji and Kumble will look to exploit home conditions to get the better of a strong South African line-up. Our reporter caught up with the tweaker in Chandigarh where he spoke about the upcoming series.

Looking ahead to the series against South Africa, who will be the key guys to watch out for in the Proteas squad?
Well they have the likes of Kallis, Smith and AB de Villiers. They have plenty of great players so we will try our best to do well against them.

Don’t you think that the South African batting is really strong as they have done really well in the recent past?
Yes, they are a good team that always plays well so we will try to perform as well as we did against them the last time that they came here to India.

You picked up 13 wickets in the last series against Australia. What are you looking to do this time?
I will try to pick up more wickets this time!

There have been some fitness concerns with the Indian team. What do you have to say about the status of your fitness?
Contrary to all reports, I am completely fit and ready to play!

What do you have to say about the young South African spinners, Peterson and Harris?
They are both very promising, they are very good spinners and this series will be their biggest challenge as they will have to bowl to the Indian batting line-up.

Which team, in your opinion, has the edge in this series?
Being the home team, playing in front of our home crowd, I think we should certainly have the advantage!

What do you have to say about the strength that Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar have added to the Indian bowling?
Well, they are both young and fast. They have both done really well for the team, especially Ishant... I’ve been involved with cricket at the highest level for over a decade so I know how rare it is to find a bowler who is so consistent and who always maintains his rhythm. I think that Ishant has great potential and if he keeps working hard he will do well for India.

-As told to Moulin Parikh