Veteran Indian Spinner 'Still Very Confident' To Make A Comeback To National Team

Harbhajan Singh might have fallen down the pecking order in the national team and any hopes of getting a recall is looking bleak but the veteran off-spinner has not given up on his comeback dreams.  The first Indian to take a hat-trick in Tests, Harbhajan has been named Punjab captain for the upcoming Ranji Trophy and is hopeful of a good show which might pave his way for the return to the national team.

“I am still very confident to make a comeback. I have been working very hard. My pre-season training has been really good. I will play all the domestic tournaments and give my hundred percent to earn a spot in the national team. I am quite hopeful to make a comeback. Just keeping my fingers crossed,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by Sportswallah. 

The 37-year old, who was the spin spearhead for Team India for more than a decade, last played an One-Day International in October 2015 while his last international appearance came over a year ago, against UAE during the 2016 Asia Cup T20.

However, if he does well in the upcoming domestic season, he can make a return to the Indian team although he is well behind the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal in the pecking order. The selectors have shown that they will prefer form over age by recalling 38-year old Ashish Nehra for the upcoming three-match T20I series.

Harbhajan further dismissed suggestions that recent performances from Chahal and Kuldeep will make it tough for Ashwin and Jadeja to return to the limited-overs team.

“The success of Kuldeep and other young spinners doesn’t mean that the ace players can’t make a comeback. And Ashwin and Jadeja are not there in the squad for the rotation policy only. They will make it to the national squad very soon. At the same time, if your current two spinners are doing well, it becomes difficult for the senior spinners to relax. I mean it will enhance the competition within the team and it’s a very healthy symbol for Indian cricket. There always should be a competition among the players. It brings out the best of a player and everybody becomes eager to prove a point or two,” he said.