Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh considers himself a betterbowler now than when he shot into international limelight taking 32 wicketsagainst Australia in the momentous series of 2000-01.
I am more confident now than I was in 2001. Then,I was not sure if I would do it again," said the Punjab offie who becamethe fastest Indian to 200 Test wickets in the first Test against Zimbabwe atBulawayo.
Harbhajan reached the milestone in his 46th Test whilehis senior teammate Anil Kumble needed 47 Tests. Harbhajan is also the secondyoungest to touch the landmark, the world record standing in the name of KapilDev.
"When I made my debut in 1998-99, I was new anddid not believe in myself. I just wanted to take two wickets and remain in theteam," Harbhajan said in an exclusive interview.
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But he has grown in confidence since and according tohim, "wants the team to do well even if I do not take three wickets".The spinner also emphasised the fact that he needed to continue improving toremain successful in international cricket.
"It has all happened so quickly. Now will be thetough period since batsmen around the world know your stuff. If I work hard andremain consistent, the graph will go up," Harbhajan said.
Talk about the Harbhajan-Kumble combination, he felt the duo didnot receive the praise and recognition it deserved. "You get more respectonly when you leave the game. Hopefully, we would have done enough to be spokenabout in the same manner as the famous spin quartet of the 70s by the time weleave," Harbhajan said.
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Harbhajan said he could not care less about some matchreferees who, he felt, were intent on nit-picking on his action.
"Three times I have given tests and come clean.Sometimes you wonder why you alone were being pulled up, but then it is not inyour hands.
"It does disturb you, more so when it happens inthe middle of the series. For example, on the first day of the Bangalore Testagainst Pakistan, I was afraid. I could not concentrate fully," he said.
Harbhajan said the International Cricket Council neededto devise precise guidelines to deal with the issue of suspect bowling actions.
"I feel the ICC should do so (check a bowler's action)at the beginning of somebody's career. But not after someone has played for50-60 Tests or picked up 500 wickets. Once you have cleared him, it makes nosense to haul him again over the coals.
PTI
