Harbhajan Singh blames media after 'privilege' statement against MS Dhoni goes viral

Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh reacted sharply to media reports suggesting that he had a problem with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's selection for the Champions Trophy. According to a report in NDTV, Bhajji said he doesn't enjoy the same "privilege" that Dhoni does when it comes to team selection.

"Yes there is no doubt that Dhoni brings a lot to the table apart from his batting, whether he is in form or not. Obviously we have seen that he is not hitting the ball as well as we have seen. But he has been captain and he understands the game and having him in the middle will help lot of youngsters and people out there who are not feeling great in particular moments. So he has that edge," said Harbhajan.

"But when it comes to me. I do feel that we are not given that sort of privilege. We too have played for 19 years and won and lost India matches. I have won two World Cups too. So this privilege is for some players, and for some it is not and I'm one of those for whom this privilege is not there. I don't know why that is the case.

"That question of 'why', needs to be asked to the selectors. I don't want to sing my own praises but the amount of cricket others have played even I understand the game as much and what they bring to the table we also bring to the table. We too wish to play for the country as much," he added.

Going by Bhajji's words, his disappointment was widely reported. However, the ace off-spinner took a U-turn on Friday and attacked the media for misquoting him.

"Dear media please don't misquote all the time. Anyone who wants to know what exactly I said in that interview please go and see the entire video," tweeted Harbhajan. "MSD is a dear friend and a great player, I never doubted his selection so please don't quote me on things which I never said against him. Just to run your sites and create 'sensational stories' don't misquote and run out of context to harm someone else's image."

Here are his tweets:

1/3 Dear media plz don't misquote all the time. Any1 who wants 2know what exactly I said in that interview please go & see the entire video. pic.twitter.com/aatVC4wxzM

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 26, 2017

2/3 MSD is a dear friend &a great player, I never doubted his selection so please don't quote me on things which I never said against him

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 26, 2017

3/3 just to run ur sites n create 'sensatiinonal stories' don't misquote & run out of context to harm someone elses image.

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 26, 2017

Well, we wonder what Bhajji is going on about. What the media represented were exactly his words. The video he attached in his tweet is proof of that.