When you are dropped, you train even harder: Harbhajan Singh

How different was it to lead Mumbai Indians this time?
I knew what to expect. In the Champions League Twenty20, we fielded a young team, but I’ve played with these guys and knew how to get the best out of them. I wanted to give them all I could, whether it was confidence or something to boost their morale. I felt I was in control while making some important decisions.
Strategy or instinct, what works for you as a skipper?
Both. Certainly you’ve to plan, but if a strategy doesn’t work you trust your instincts. Regardless of the outcome, you must tell yourself that was the best decision in the situation. You ought to have the resources to execute it. Ideally, first you give your team a free hand. Make clear what you expect. If they can’t do it, you step in.

After a long time, you looked so elated…
Mumbai Indians were underdogs and, naturally, the expectations were not unreasonable. We were without Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Munaf Patel and other key players. Yet, we were waiting for this moment for a long time. The tournament featured some of the top international teams. As a captain and player, the win meant a lot. Leading India Green in the Challenger Trophy and getting to watch some exciting domestic talent was another interesting experience. We couldn’t close out the game (the final had ended in a tie), but at least we didn’t lose it. I’m happy that for the first time Green finished on top. 

Of late, you have been focussing more on the off-break. You had once said that dismissing Michael Hussey with a doosra was your best ball ever. Will you cut down on bowling doosras?
Why should I cut down on any of my weapons? You need to balance them and know when to deliver what. Off-spin remains my stock ball, but I don’t want to ignore the delivery that has fetched me plenty of wickets. The doosra creates doubts in batsmen’s mind. They’re unsure whether to step out or play straight. Batsmen are so good nowadays — I’m sure they had quality even in the past — that they use the depth of the crease cleverly. You don’t want to get too predictable in international cricket.

Has the time away from the Indian team given you the space to reflect on your game?
Obviously, you get the time to think what needs to be done and how to go about it. My first motive was to get fit. Now I can run around and do the cricketing things right. That’s what you want to do as a cricketer. When you are dropped, you train even harder in order to get back to where you belong.
I spent nearly 25-30 days at the National Cricket Academy after returning from England. During the rehab, I worked hard on my fitness.

Just what went wrong in England?
I played only one Test at Lord’s. In the second innings of the next Test, I bowled nine overs in three spells. In the first, I could merely bowl four overs. I was in so much pain that I could barely bend. To keep writing that Harbhajan didn’t do well in England is not fair given that I wasn’t even there. I understand that as a team we didn’t do well. But one series can’t make us an ordinary team. I’ve seen great sides go through such a phase. We created history in the last three to four years. We are the same group of guys that achieved the top position in Tests and won the World Cup. I want to request people not to write us off. I’ve full faith that very soon we’ll regain the top positions.

The last time you were dropped from the national team, you returned with a bang in the World T20 in South Africa. Will it be a lot tougher this time around?
No one likes to be dropped. I know I’ve a lot of cricket left in me. I’m looking forward to playing my 100th Test in Kolkata (referring to the match against the West Indies on Nov 14). When I started playing, I never thought I’d come this far. We may not realise it but God always has something special and nice, provided you work hard towards it.

It’s held that when a spinner is in his 30s, it’s too late to bring a technical change in his game...
There is no end to learning whether it’s cricket or life. In matches, you face different challenges and at times you react differently. This game gives you scope to learn all the time, but you must not forget what you’re good at. You keep adding to your variations. Yet at the same time, you must never lose sight of your main strength.