Following the official announcement of his retirement from all forms of cricket last month, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been outspoken on various issues while recalling his illustrious cricketing career.
Recently, he had blamed top Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials and MS Dhoni for his ouster from the Indian team and claimed he deserved to play for the national side for a longer period of time.
Harbhajan has spoken on the issue again and has expressed his regret at not making the 2015 Indian World Cup side. The legendary off-spinner claimed he rued not getting the opportunity to play another big-ticket event with the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Gautam Gambhir.
Talking to ANI, Harbhajan said, “It would have been nice to play another world cup together with all my colleagues like Yuvraj and Virender Sehwag. When I took 400 Test wickets, I was only 31 and in 2011 also, I was 31. At 31, I was doing really well and I was fitter than many who actually were playing the game.”
The four-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion claimed India’s 2011 World Cup stars were fit enough to make the team for the 2015 event in Australia.
“I don’t know what happened and who was behind it but whatever happened it’s gone. There is no point talking about it. But yes would have been nice to play another world cup with Viru, Yuvi and maybe Gautam Gambhir as well.
“We guys were fit enough to be the part of the 2015 World Cup team which did not happen. That is something which was not in our hands and all I have to say is whatever opportunities we have got, whatever we have done for Indian cricket,” said Harbhajan.
The ex-spinner added, “I always want to be grateful for that and love all the opportunities we have got by the BCCI. I am going to be grateful for that and people have said a lot about that 2012, 2013, 2014 period why those guys did not play who won the world cup for India which I do not have the answer. You guys don’t have the answer. I don’t know who can give the answer but you must ask the BCCI.
“At that time, the BCCI that why these guys did not play together after winning the 2011 World Cup. We were not in our late 30s, we were in our starting 30s. I was 31, Viru was like 31-32, Yuvi was 29-30 and we never got to play another world cup which is quite strange actually.”
Harbhajan played a key role in India winning the 2011 World Cup on home soil and featured in every game for the hosts. Meanwhile, Sehwag had hit a brilliant knock of 175 in MS Dhoni & Co’s first game in the tournament against Bangladesh while Yuvraj won the player of the tournament award.
