New Delhi: Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be donning the Kolkata Knight Riders colours for the first time when the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League gets underway on April 9 in Chennai.
The offie, who has played for Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings before, said he is least bothered of people questioning his willingness to carry on. He added that wants to now ‘enjoy every moment of whatever cricket is left’ in him.
The 40-year-old, who skipped the IPL in Dubai last year, was bought by the two-time IPL champions KKR at his base price of Rs 2 crore. “Lot of people think ‘Bhai yeh kyun khel raha hain?’ Arrey bhai yeh unki soch hai, meri naahi. Meri soch hai ki main abhi khel sakta hoon, toh main khelunga (People think ‘why is he playing’ but that’s your opinion. From where I see myself, I want to play and I will play),” Harbhajan told PTI.
“I have got nothing to prove to anyone. My intention is to play well, enjoy my stint out there in the middle and playing cricket still gives me that satisfaction. I have set a standard for myself and if I don’t meet that, I don’t need anyone else but I will blame myself. I need to ask myself, did I put in the optimum effort that was required.”
“Yes, I am not a 20-year-old anymore and won’t be training like I did then. But yes, as a 40-year-old, I know I am fit and will certainly do what is required to succeed at this level. The expectation is still going to be there and responsibilities that were there when I was playing for India remains,” said one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history with 150 scalps.
On why he opted out from IPL last year, Harbhajan said he was concerned about his family and the hard quarantine on return to India. “Last year, when IPL happened, COVID-19 in India was at its peak. I was concerned about my family and also about hard quarantine in India after coming back. But this year, it’s happening in India and also we have now got used to new normal.
“Vaccines have come. Also it’s my family who pushed. My wife (Geeta) told me that I should go and play,” said Harbhajan, who is set to become a father for the second time in July. Harbhajan has won IPL titles with Mumbai Indians and CSK.
