Harbhajan Singh, the veteran India off-spinner, whose most recent outing for the country came more than four years back in 2016, hasn't yet given up hopes of a comeback, especially in T20Is.
The 39-year-old continues to ply his trade in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and believes he still has what it takes to do well in the shortest format for India.
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"I'm ready," Harbhajan told ESPNcricinfo. "If I can bowl well in IPL, which is a very difficult tournament for bowlers because the grounds are smaller, and all the top players in world cricket play in the IPL."
"It is very challenging to bowl against them and if you can do well against them in IPL, you can do well in international cricket. I have bowled predominantly in the powerplay and middle overs and got wickets," added the turbanator.
Opportunities across formats have been rare for Harbhajan since Ravichandran Ashwin leapfrogged him in the pecking order post the 2011 World Cup. While loss in form at the international level didn't do his chances any good, age is another factor that has gone against the man.
"They (selectors) will not look at me because they feel I am too old," said Harbhajan. "Also I don't play any domestic cricket. (In the) Last four-five years they did not look at me even though I was doing well in the IPL, taking wickets and I had all my records to back my case."
Harbhajan has bowled at an economy rate of 7.05 across 160 games in the history of the IPL, which he reckons is the toughest T20 tournament in the world and where performances deserve higher recognition.
"In international cricket, not all teams have quality players like IPL teams, where every team has a top-six which is good."
"Yes, Australia, England, India have all got very good batting line-ups. But if I can get Johnny Bairstow and David Warner in IPL, don't you think I can get them in international cricket? But it is not in my hands. No one comes and talks to you in this present Indian set-up," he concluded.
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
