Bhajji: I see myself as a bowler who can contribute with the bat

[Karan114]

‘I see myself as a bowler who can contribute with the bat’ - Harbhajan after a sterling show LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100621/jsp/sports/story_12588296.jsp Calcutta: We’ve known Harbhajan Singh to be a match-winner with the ball. On Saturday night, the offie proved a winner with the bat, too. Indeed, Harbhajan’s unbeaten 15 (11 balls, 2x6), in a heart-stopping tight finish, carried India to the Asia Cup final and finished Pakistan’s hopes of getting there. Harbhajan, who has completed a dozen years in the India colours (355 wickets in Tests; 242 in ODIs), turns 30 on July 3. On Sunday afternoon, the occasionally controversial senior pro spoke to The Telegraph from Dambulla. The following are excerpts On the morning-after... Felt great... The win, I think, has sent a strong message that we’re capable of beating any team... It’s a message for Sri Lanka, whom we play in the final, as well. Whether he slept well (Laughs) Surprisingly, I didn’t... It’s said that you sleep well after a good day in office, but it wasn’t to be for me... Perhaps, because of being over-excited. Doing a Javed Miandad — getting the winning runs, in an India-Pakistan game, via a six Yeah... I’d grown up listening about Miandad’s last-ball six off Chetan Sharma in that (April 1986 Austral-Asia Cup) final in Sharjah... I was five years old then... In fact, log abhi bhi baat karte hain. Of course, I’ve watched that tape a few times since and remember that Miandad didn’t stop running till he’d reached the Pakistan dressing room. Now, I suppose, people will also talk of my six. Significance of the win in Dambulla It has come at a critical time in our cricket... We didn’t do well in the World T20 and, then, the somewhat young team which went to Zimbabwe didn’t make the tri-series final there... Having said that, people must remember that this team is capable of defeating any opposition. Nobody wants to lose, but there are occasions when you end up being second-best... We’ve been No.1 in ODIs and still are at the top in Test cricket. Having been fired up in the closing stages of the match One must play with josh... An India-Pakistan game is always big and, so, there will be plenty of passion, energy and emotion... Special hota hai. Thoughts going into the last over, with four wickets in hand and seven runs required Was confident... Knew it was a matter of just one hit... I’d been confident when (Suresh) Raina was there... I was confident even after he got out and PK (Praveen Kumar) came to the crease. It was important to stay calm and we did so. Exchange of words with speedster Shoaib Akhtar, for whom the Asia Cup has been a comeback tournament Shoaib kept abusing me, something which increased after I hit him for a six, in the 47th over... I don’t have a problem with players being charged up, but I’m definitely going to react if somebody abuses members of my family... Shoaib did that, bolte raha... So... I don’t know if the Match Referee (Andy Pycroft) had a word with him. Whether he raised the issue with Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, during the presentation ceremony I did... I said Shoaib has no right to abuse an opponent... That he should look to win fair and square, not by abusing fellow-professionals. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni saluting him as an all-rounder I’m happy the way I am... I honestly see myself as a bowler who can contribute with the bat... Today’s cricket is such that everybody needs to play a role in all three departments... I’ve been working hard on my batting and it’s nice that I could deliver in such a crucial match, against Pakistan... (After a pause) Touch wood, whatever I had in mind, worked... I have, in the past, played some useful innings in ODIs, but wasn’t able to finish it off. Last October, for example, I scored 49 in Vadodara but we still lost to Australia by four runs... Yesterday, I was able to complete the job... I don’t know what everybody else feels, but I don’t have to be called an all-rounder. Specialists having to reinvent themselves Bowlers, in particular, have to realise that they’ve got to contribute with the bat... As I’ve mentioned, that’s a requirement of the times. Rating his performance (two wickets, besides the all-important runs) Probably the most satisfying in ODIs... I say so for two reasons — the opposition being Pakistan and, then, making an impact with the bat (too). His No.1 show for India Oh, the Test hattrick at the Eden, against Australia, nine years ago... If I may add, the response, by way of calls and messages, has been the same for what I managed last night. Khushi ho rahi hai... I mean, I’ve helped bring joy to so many. Thoughts going into Thursday’s final... We’ll have to play to potential. If we do, the Asia Cup will be regained... We’ve stumbled only when we haven’t played to potential. [india, of course, have an inconsequential league game, against Sri Lanka, on Tuesday.] Finally, what came to mind after he’d smashed Mohammed Aamer for the match-winning six (Laughs) I thanked God, for being kind... Remembered the near and dear ones and thought of the millions who support us. Actually, I wanted to scream Jai Hind!

[mastana]

Finally, what came to mind after he’d smashed Mohammed Aamer for the match-winning six (Laughs) I thanked God, for being kind... Remembered the near and dear ones and thought of the millions who support us. Actually, I wanted to scream Jai Hind!

[Sir john]

bhajji :two_thumbs_up:

[achilles]

:isalute: We meet many more proud Indians like you, Bhajji :isalute:

[Ranjha]

What a champion!!!!

[b555]

Actually, I wanted to scream Jai Hind! watta beauty !!!

[DomainK]

Excellent interview. :two_thumbs_up:

[fineleg]

HS should change (title) stmt to "batsman who MAY contribute with the ball rarely" Bhajji bowled like a part-time bowler today. Ojha was better and attacked better. If Sehwag was fit, he can bowl better than Bhajji. And before anyone jumps to defend as "Day 1" blah...watch the match if you missed the Day-1 and you will see that there cannot be a better example of insipid bowling. The opposition is reeling 5 wickets down, and our man throws darts, bowls wide outside leg :banghead: Some spinner!

[hari504504]

Not cool man, Photoshopped pictures like that, simply mock the brave Allied soldiers who sacrificed their lives at Iwo Jima. Get something original

[cowboysfan]

ojha will not see a siingle game in sa because of bhajji's batting.

[Ranjha]

HS should change (title) stmt to "batsman who MAY contribute with the ball rarely" Bhajji bowled like a part-time bowler today. Ojha was better and attacked better. If Sehwag was fit, he can bowl better than Bhajji. And before anyone jumps to defend as "Day 1" blah...watch the match if you missed the Day-1 and you will see that there cannot be a better example of insipid bowling. The opposition is reeling 5 wickets down, and our man throws darts, bowls wide outside leg :banghead: Some spinner!

oh give it a break..Bhajji bowled quite good in periods. yes ohja got one more wicket and he bowled better than bhajji today...so what....its just one test....let the test finish.

[Ranjha]

ojha will not see a siingle game in sa because of bhajji's batting.

we would be trailing 1-0 in this series if not for bhajjis batting. and ohja is not a better bowler than bhajji..but bhajji is out of form with bowling this year..even then he is getting same wickets as ohja if not more.

[Ranjha]

and Jessie Ryder was the most crucial wicket as far as I am concerned. Next crucial wicket is McCullum...Lets see who removes him tomm.

[saneindian]

Cut the guy some slack. But for him we could well have lost the series by now.

[Lord]

we would be trailing 1-0 in this series if not for bhajjis batting. and ohja is not a better bowler than bhajji..but bhajji is out of form with bowling this year..even then he is getting same wickets as ohja if not more.

n we wouldnt have gotten into that position in 1st test if not for Bhajji's bowling

[gsivak]

I would rather see him contributing with the ball. As awesome as it has been to see him score the century we need a wicket taking spinner more badly than a plucky batsman with faulty technique

[Ranjha]

n we wouldnt have gotten into that position in 1st test if not for Bhajji's bowling

So why didn't the other spinner ohms win u the first test? When Bhajji was new, he won u tests on his own...surely ohja could do it?

[Lord]

So why didn't the other spinner ohms win u the first test? When Bhajji was new, he won u tests on his own...surely ohja could do it?

really,2001 series was 3 years after his debut I think n one big difference too,Bhajji was bowling under n learning from Kumble,Ojha is learning from Bhajji:giggle:

[fineleg]

' date='Bhajji was bowling under n learning from Kumble,Ojha is learning from Bhajji:giggle:[/quote'] :--D

[Ranjha]

Bhajji MAN OF THE SERIES Need I say more.