Bhajji wants to take it one step at a time |
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Monday April 7, 02:25 AM
Harbhajan Singh may not be too worried about it, but his big moments have a tendency to get overshadowed - his 13-wicket match haul in that historic Test match at the Eden Gardens in 2001 was buried under VVS Laxman's innings of 281. More recently in Australia, it was not his performance with the ball in hand, but his behaviour off the field that formed the centre of attraction.
It's hardly surprising then, that this milestone went largely unnoticed as well. In the Ahmedabad Test, which India lost by an innings and 90 runs in under three days, he surpassed the tally of left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi (266 wickets) to become the third-highest wicket-taker for India after Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev. Rather quietly, as India played catch-up, Harbhajan slipped into the history books.
In fact, not many in the dressing room realised it immediately either.
"Everybody was so engrossed in the match (India were shot out for 76)... In the dressing room, Yuvraj (Singh) was the first to come and shake hands with me. Then everybody realised it and congratulated me.
"Anyway, I don't think it was a big achievement to be celebrated. I haven't taken 400 wickets yet," said Harbhajan.
But the spinner is happy with the feat and content with the way his career has gone so far. "It's not easy to get that many wickets. It feels great to be in that elite group. But there's still a long way to go. Only half of my job is done. But things could have been a little better. The last one year wasn't too great; I didn't bowl much in Test cricket," he said.
The offie has just bettered the record of a person who has been very vocal about the 27-year-old.
Bedi has repeatedly spoken out against Harbhajan's action, but the Jalandhar man doesn't hold any grudges. "As a person I respect him. He speaks his mind. He has contributed a lot to Indian cricket," Harbhajan said, adding, "I can't stop people from saying things. I am playing my part. At the end of the day, I know what I am doing. I am a very self-made person," said Harbhajan, who has 268 wickets from 65 Tests.
"My immediate goal is to get past the 300 mark and then see how it goes. I can't cross Kumble's record. 600 is too much to ask for. But I want to be right next to him in the list. And I think I can achieve it. A lot of cricket is left in me. Age is on my side.
"I just have to work hard and keep myself fit to fulfill my expectations," said Harbhajan.
The presence of Kumble in the team and the skipper's undiminished desire to pick wickets irrespective of the situation inspires the off-spinner.
"He is outstanding... there's not too much else you can say. He is a role model. His hunger for the game motivates me," said Harbhajan.
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