Harbhajan Singh is no ‘Pappu’ when it comes to dancing. We’ve all seen him break into an impromptu bhangra on the field.
Off-spinner is relishing the challenge of taking on Ricky Ponting’s No.1 team in the Test series beginning early next month
MUMBAI: Harbhajan Singh is no ‘Pappu’ when it comes to dancing. We’ve all seen him break into an impromptu bhangra on the field.
But now the reality TV bug has bitten him too. Bhajji has signed on to take part in a new dance show co-hosted by Pakistani legend Wasim Akram. It will pair a cricketer with a TV actress, who will then compete against other such teams.
Bhajji’s ‘slap-gate’ buddy and disco-dancer of the team S Sreesanth is also a part of the show. “It’s just something fun. I enjoy dancing, so let’s see,” Bhajji said, from his home in Jalandhar, where he is spending some quiet time with his family after the tiring tour of Sri Lanka. However, it is Australia’s tour of India that Harbhajan is focussed on now.
Bhajji promises it’s going to be one heck of a series. “Our aim has always been to be the No.1 side in the world. We have a tough task against Australia. I am sure it’s going to be a very exciting and closely fought series. I really like playing against them. There is always extra josh to do well against a team of the calibre of Australia.”
Another ‘buddy’ of Bhajji, Andrew Symonds might not feature in the Aussie line-up, after the all-rounder’s disciplinary problems have left the selectors with no choice but to drop him.
Is that a relief for the 28-year-old off-spinner, considering their tumultuous past? “It doesn’t bother me whether he is coming or not. We are playing against a team. If he features in it, fine, if he doesn’t, things don’t change much for me. We may have had our squabbles, but that’s all part of the game. And for me the team winning is more
important than any personal battles or dramas.”
With a long and gruelling season ahead, Harbhajan is focussed on making each day count. The over 40-day long tour of Sri Lanka has left the team battered and bruised and in need of a break.
In the second Test at Galle, Harbhajan came to the party. It was his first series after being banned for the slap-gate incident. Bhajji played a huge part in scripting that win.
However, his 10 wickets in the match were overshadowed by Virender Sehwag’s 201.
“It was a good tour for me. Even as a team we did well, winning the ODIs,” he said. “I wish I had taken more wickets in the Tests and helped the team win the series. I am proud of my performance in Galle.”
Bhajji scalped 16 wickets in three Tests and six in the four ODIs that he played. He says that every wicket he took in Lanka, gave him immense pleasure, as the island is one of the tougher places to play cricket in.
“It’s a misconception that Lanka being in the sub-continent, playing there is like playing in home conditions. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The wickets are different, balls are different and the conditions are very hard. The wickets are very slow and one has to toil hard to get the batsmen out. The heat and humidity is killing. Probably, Chennai is the most similar in conditions to Lanka. Even then, Lanka can get much more difficult.”
Having, played three hard Tests, Bhajji says winning the ODIs series has been like a much-needed tonic. “To end the series on the high is great. We sort of felt rejuvenated.”
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