New Delhi: To describe Harbhajan Singh's career as a roller coaster will be a pretty fair. At 28 he is already one of India's most successful bowlers, but he seems unable to make one critical transition from being one of the boys to a seasoned veteran.
In Harbhajan’s latest test match, India needed to win to level the series and protect a proud home record. And Harbhajan ensured just that, leading the attack in the absence of the injured Anil Kumble. His seven-wicket haul took India to victory in three days.
“I am glad we won. It should have been 2-0,” the bowler had said.
There is little doubt that Harbhajan Singh relishes the joy of team sport, camaraderie with fellow players, the thrill of celebrating wins together and most importantly being one of the boys.
But is it time for Harbhajan to introspect — why is it that even after 11 years of making his international debut he is not counted among team India’s senior think-tank?
M S Dhoni and Virender Sehwag weren't even heard of when Harbhajan made his debut but have gone on to captain India. Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid only made their debut two seasons before Harbhajan.
He is India’s third highest wicket-taker in test cricket, only behind the great Anil Kumble and the legendary Kapil Dev.
Besides Dhoni, Harbhajan is the only player who regularly plays in India’s test, one-day and T20 teams in the current set-up.
Despite these staggering feats, Harbhajan fiery temperament gets him in the headlines for the wrong reasons all too often.
For instance, his attempt to brush away what was a serious violation of the ICC’s code of conduct in this case was hard to understand.
“It isn't a big deal, between two brothers," he said about the slapping row.
With Anil Kumble's international career on its home stretch, Harbhajan Singh will soon be India’s undisputed number one spinner. The burden of that responsibility, perhaps, will make the boy from Jullandhar finally grow up to be a man.
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