Being Harbhajan

Mumbai: The body looks to be in top shape; hours of work out during the two-month off-season seem to have produced a desirable result. After Anil Kumble’s retirement in November 2008, the great legacy of Indian spin bowling has a new ambassador. Into his first season as Team India’s senior most spinner, Harbhajan Singh is excited to lead the spin department.
“I’m raring to go. I see it as an opportunity and not as a burden. Whenever I’ve played for India, I’ve taken up responsibility and tried to deliver. This is a new challenge and I hope to do well,” the Turbanator assures.

With the season starting with the tri-series in Sri Lanka, he’ll have a new ally in leg-spinner Amit Mishra. Though exponents of different arts of spin bowling, their passion and aggression unites them in their quest to outwit a batsman. Does it help to have an aggressive bowling partner running in from the other end? “It surely does. I have played along side Amit Mishra on many occasions. When the pressure is built on the batsman from both the ends, it’s easier to plot his dismissal. Moreover, it creates a healthy rivalry. He’s making a comeback into the ODI side and I’m sure he’ll do well,” Bhajji bats for his bowling partner.

On Test cricket

Money and other trappings of the micro-mini version of cricket — T20 format — may have lured many cricketers of his generation but Harbhajan’s heart still lies in Test cricket. “I feel we should play more Test matches. In a year we should play somewhere between 12 and 15 Test matches. I also firmly believe that the format of Test cricket should not be tampered with. I’m not in support of four-day Test or day-night Test in order to make it more popular. I think if there is enough buzz created and the game is promoted well, crowds will come to watch Test cricket. I feel school children should be encouraged to watch Test matches by giving them free tickets,” says Harbhajan. Hopefully, the mandarins of BCCI take note of it.

Wickets have always come to Harbhajan when the ball has come out of his hand slowly, imparting more revolutions and toss. “Yes, I’m aware of that. But how I bowl also depends on the batsman I’m bowling to. Moreover, I’ll see what sort of wicket requires what sort of bowling and bowl accordingly,” this time he bats for himself.

On training

Fitness seems to be foremost on his mind. Perhaps, the rigours of international cricket have brought in the realization. He keeps emphasizing on the importance of fitness. “I want to stay fit, so that I can take the pressures of international cricket and continue to bowl to my strength.”

Any particular aspect of bowling that he has worked on during the off-season? “Well, nothing in particular. I’ve been trying to stick to the basic stuff. I’ve been working on little things like rotation of my waist, hip movement and feet movement. You need to keep these basics right to get the spin and bounce,” he explains about the training he had been doing to hone his skills further.

Always indebted to Anil Kumble for his valuable suggestions, he says, “I’ve learnt a lot from him. Whenever I have had problems with release of the ball, rotation of the seam and length to bowl, I’ve gone to him and he has always helped me out. I also go to other senior players like Sachin and Dravid. From a batsman’s point of view, they tell me how I’m bowling and it helps a lot. I’ve been lucky to have seniors like them around me,” he says.

On batting

Apart from tormenting batsmen with his spin, Harbhajan is blessed with good timing as a batsman but hasn’t quite given batting a serious thought. “No, no, I’ve been taking my batting little seriously for last one year. Lot of senior players like Sachin, Viru (Sehwag) and Laxman have told me that I’m a good timer of the ball. Earlier, I never paid any attention to my batting but nowadays I’m taking it more seriously. Now, I bat more sensibly even in the nets,” he defends himself and quickly reminds that he has four half-centuries against Australia.

Any possibility of Harbhajan emerging into an all rounder? “Why not, given a chance I can come up the order and bat sensibly, spend a lot of time at the wicket and I’m sure runs will come.”

Not the one who sets any target for himself, but in the coming season Harbhajan is hoping that the team wins lot of matches. “Hopefully, by the end of this season we go on to become the top team in the world,” he says.