Harbhajan Singh is prepared to trade economy for wickets when he makes hisIndia comeback in the inaugural Twenty-20 World Championships in South Africanext month.
"I wouldn't worry too much about economy in the Twenty20 World Cup, youwould go for runs anyway. If I pick up a few wickets along the way, I would besatisfied," says the Punjab off-spinner, one of the meanest bowlers inworld cricket.
Harbhajan is aware the last thing a bowler could do when playing in thelatest form of the game is worry about conceding runs.
"Twenty20 is not for bowlers, especially spinners. Just 20 overs andfull 10 wickets at their disposal, teams have a license to go afterbowlers," the 27-year-old said in London.
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"With a maximum of four overs to bowl in a match, a bowler ought to havedone well if his economy rate is 7-8 runs per over."
This from a bowler as miserly as one could have ever seen.
Harbhajan's economy rate of 4.15 per over is better than all but two of thetop 10 bowlers in the ICC rankings -- Shaun Pollock (3.71) and MuttiahMuralitharan (3.85).
His economy rate of 2.81 in Tests also compares favourably with other threegreat spinners of our times -- Murali (2.40), Shane Warne (2.65) and Anil Kumble(2.66).
But that did not stop India's fifth highest wicket-taker, with a Test tallyof 238 scalps, from being left out of the Test and ODI teams for the tour of UK.
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In fact, chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar was on record saying thatHarbhajan needed to pick more wickets instead of being only containing.
So, the Twenty-20, that would have been otherwise a nightmare, is giving hopeto the 'Turbanator'.
That he has been among wickets - 31 from five matches - for Surrey in Englishcounty cricket would also helps Harbhajan's confidence.
"Surrey is fighting relegation in the county championship and all suchteams are keen to gain maximum points. Thus green tops are being prepared. As aspinner the odds are stacked against you but I'm happy to have done well,"he said.
Harbhajan would fly straight from England to South Africa next month after hehas done his bit for Surrey in the remaining two-three fixtures of the county.
The last few months have been bittersweet for Harbhajan. A few peers andseniors have come out in support but most others, supposedly in his closenetwork, have behaved as if he never existed.
"I was faced with choices in the last few months - either to paint theworld black and point fingers at everyone or silently go about picking myself upfrom the floor and do what I do best. I am happy I went for the secondoption," he said.
"In 2000, when I was out of the team, my list of friends had really comedown. Now it's been pruned even further. Ironically, I am grateful to God forthis spell. It has made me a better person, reflective and realistic."
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PTI
