Bhajji targets World Cup

Fresh from leading Punjab to a runner-up finish in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament, out-of-favour India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is happy with his own showing in the domestic circuit and is keen to make a comeback into the national team for the 2015 World Cup.

“I am targeting the World Cup. It would be great to be a part of the team in Australia and New Zealand. For a player, World Cup is a big tournament and I am keeping my hopes alive,” Harbhajan, who was part of India’s World Cup-winning team in the 2011 tournament, told PTI.

“Everyday I wake up, I stay positive and think that I am going to be part of the team. I am motivating myself to do well for India again. And of course I am looking forward to play all the games. I want to perform well and get back into the Indian side,” he added.
After maintaining a good run in the national one-day tournament, Punjab were outplayed by Karnataka in the title clash, but skipper Harbhajan was content with the team’s performance.

“I am really happy with my bowling efforts and happy that I led the team to the Vijay Hazare finals. I am proud of my Punjab boys for their performance. A bit unfortunate that we could not lift the trophy. We should make sure that we come better prepared and do even better to lift the trophy next time.

A veteran of 101 Tests and 229 ODIs, Harbhajan, who has a lot of experience of playing in Australia, does have a word of advice for the present lot.
“The best way to play in Australia is to stay positive. People are saying that it’s their weakest side. I know it’s not the same side as it was 10 or 5 years back, when we last played them.

“But knowing Australians, especially in their own den, they can be a very dangerous unit. They play good cricket and to match them on the field and to beat them you have to display aggression and keep a positive frame of mind,” said Bhajji.  Being part of the infamous ‘Monkeygate’ scandal involving Andrew Symonds in the 2007-08 tour, Harbhajan said that by aggression he doesn’t mean verbal banter.

“By aggression I don’t mean sledging or doing things the wrong way. Aggression comes from how you play. The batting, the bowling, making the right moves and setting the right field and bowling according to the team’s demands is what aggression means to me. I believe in keeping things simple.

“You have to be in the driver’s seat, you have to be the boss and show them that you are controlling the game. And that is what I call aggression and it comes from positive intent.”

Harbhajan had recently come in for a lot of praise by ICC CEO Dave Richardson for not only working on his action but also coming out clean with the questionable ‘doosra’. The spinner is just happy to get lauded by the ICC.

“It’s nice to get encouraging words from the highest quarter. I will keep on working hard to serve my country in the future as well. A lot of other spinners have been called for their actions and my advice to them is just follow the rules and regulations,” said the ‘Turbanator’.

Harbhajan cannot forget Umpire Darrel Hair’s jibe at his bowling action and said that the latest ICC comment should put everything to rest.