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Looking to play international cricket for couple of years: Harbhajan Singh

The Punjab bowler made little effort to hide his happiness and kept smiling as he chatted with journalists at a city hotel. He as usual exuded confidence and said that his aim is not just to play one Test, but play more.

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Even as speculations were rife that some senior players would be rested for the one off Test and ODI series against Bangladesh, none had any inkling that veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh would make a comeback to international cricket.

On Wednesday, the five-wise men stunned everyone by including India's second highest-wicket-taker. But one man was not surprised — Harbhajan himself.

"I always felt I was close to wearing the India cap and always expected my name to be announced in the list. If I wasn't confident about my return, who will be," said Harbhajan during an interaction with the media after he was included in the Test squad.

The Punjab bowler made little effort to hide his happiness and kept smiling as he chatted with journalists at a city hotel. He as usual exuded confidence and said that his aim is not just to play one Test, but play more.

"Every game was an opportunity for me and I had to do something better to get back into the national side. I worked really hard and performed well whenever I got a chance. It feels great to be back. I have played most of my cricket at the international level and I'm very much looking to play for another good couple of years, perform well and do whatever I can do for the team to be successful," he said.

Harbhajan said the two years that he was out of the team were tough.

"It's always tough when you are out of the team for a long period of time. However, at the end of the day nothing is impossible if you have the will and the ability to make it happen. If not today, may be tomorrow. I knew that if I keep on working, I will get there."

"The challenge was there. But my aim was to make a comeback. Of course, it was difficult. There was competition too. It happens in sports. If you play for India for so long, there will be expectations and the return is not so easy. But I am thankful to God that I my got the reward for my hard work. I hope to perform the same way as I did before."

There was a time when the 34-year-old had no one else but himself and close friends to motivate him. "In such times, you have to motivate yourself. You have to be strong from inside and only then you can emerge. I kept practicing and working hard. Family and friends were there to support me and were pushing me saying that I belong to the Indian team. Hopefully, I will make it count," he said.

So did he do anything different? "No, I'm bowling the same way. Probably a little slower in IPL as the batsman are looking to play their shots. I am bowling according to a plan and I know what I need to bowl," said the Mumbai Indians all-rounder, who is gearing up for the IPL final next week.

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