Another day, another set of contentious remarks from former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who revealed that he held aspirations to captain the country at the highest level of the game but couldn’t do so because “I didn’t know anyone in the BCCI”. In an interview with CricketNext.com, Harbhajan said he lacked someone in the Indian […]
Another day, another set of contentious remarks from former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who revealed that he held aspirations to captain the country at the highest level of the game but couldn’t do so because “I didn’t know anyone in the BCCI”.
In an interview with CricketNext.com, Harbhajan said he lacked someone in the Indian board who could’ve pushed his case as a leadership candidate.
Taking confidence from his experience and success as stand-in captain for Mumbai Indians (MI), whom he led to the title of the Champions League T20 in 2011, Harbhajan said “I was capable enough to lead the side”.
“Oh yes! That is also an achievement that no one talks about – my captaincy. I didn’t know anyone in the BCCI; someone who could push my case because it is required (for national captaincy),” said Harbhajan Singh, controversially implying that India captaincy is a job directly related to connections with powerful men sitting in BCCI office.
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“If you are not among the favourites of someone (powerful), you don’t get such honours. But, let’s leave that topic,” he added. “I know I was capable enough (to lead) as we used to guide a lot of captains.”
“No big deal if I was an India captain or not. No regrets either if I didn’t become the captain for my country. I was always happy to serve the nation as a player.”
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Harbhajan Singh retired from all forms of cricket last year.
During the interview, Harbhajan Singh also spoke about his relationship with former skipper MS Dhoni. Despite time and again hinting his displeasure about being sacked from the team after 2011, Harbhajan said it’s not Dhoni that he has an issue with but the BCCI regime and the selectors at the time.
Harbhajan claimed he once had a query with the national selectors about the move to drop him and their response was that it is not in their hands.
“I have no complaints against MS. In fact, he has been a good friend all these years,” said Harbhajan, who played the latter half of his career under Dhoni and also played with the legend in IPL via his stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
“I have complaint to the BCCI, the sarkar (government) of that time. I call BCCI as sarkar. The selectors of that time didn’t do justice to their roles. They didn’t allow the team to be united. What was the point of bringing in new guys when the greats were still around and delivering?”
“I once confronted the selectors on this and their reply was it wasn’t in their hands and then I asked why they are the selectors, then?”
Harbhajan Singh was first dropped from the team in 2011 after a prolonged dip in performances. The spinner was brought back for sporadic opportunities in 2012, 2015 and 2016 but could never really cement his place back. He retired from all forms of the game late last year.
