40-year-old veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be seen in gold and purple this IPL 2021 edition as he will play for the 2012 and 2014 IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He was bought by the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise for his base price of INR 2 crores in the IPL 2021 auction.
Harbhajan has not played for India since 2015 and doesn’t play competitive cricket anymore for Punjab in the domestic level as well. The only cricket he plays is the Indian Premier League and in an interview mentioned that he wants to keep playing as he loves the game.
"Lot of people think 'Bhai yeh kyun khel raha hain?' Arrey bhai yeh unki soch hai, meri naahi. Meri soch hai ki main abhi khel sakta hoon, toh main khelunga (People think 'why is he playing' but that's your opinion. From where I see myself, I want to play and I will play)," Harbhajan told PTI in an interview.
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"I have got nothing to prove to anyone. My intention is to play well, enjoy my stint out there in the middle and playing cricket still gives me that satisfaction. I have set a standard for myself and if I don't meet that, I don't need anyone else but I will blame myself. I need to ask myself, did I put in the optimum effort that was required," he said.
Harbhajan Singh had made his Test debut in 1998 and is in the 23rd year of his professional cricket career. Knowing well he is not young anymore, the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup winner said he is still fit to succeed at this level.
"Yes, I am not a 20-year-old anymore and won't be training like I did then. But yes, as a 40 year-old, I know I am fit and will certainly do what is required to succeed at this level. The expectation is still going to be there and responsibilities that were there when I was playing for India remains,” Harbhajan mentioned.
Harbhajan had missed the IPL 2020 in UAE citing COVID-19 concerns and family issues. However, this time he revealed that he was pushed by his family members to play in the IPL.
“This year, it's happening in India and also we have now got used to new normal. Vaccines have come. Also it's my family which pushed. My wife (Geeta) told me that I should go and play," said Harbhajan.
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He also spoke about helping out another spinner in KKR net sessions like Kuldeep Yadav, Harbhajan said, “Why will I wait for Kuldeep to come to me? I have never had such egos in my life. If I see anything that needs to be told, I will go up to him and perhaps give him a suggestion as to what he could do better. That's what seniors are for. If I see something that needs to be told to him and it will help his bowling, I will myself go up and tell him that. That's what seniors do."
He is at a stage of his career where he needs to do a self-assessment after every season.
"Every season, I introspect if I have it in me to play or not. If I feel I am done, I will say, 'thank you, very much'. If I feel I am doing alright, you will see me next year," he said, signing off.
(PTI inputs)
