'We can beat the Aussies any day'

He is known as the fighter of the team, he was making a comeback in the side. But not only did he make his comeback successfully but played a major role in the Twenty20 victory. We are talking about Harbhajan Singh.

Nishant Arora: First of all, you must have been surprised with what you saw in the streets of Mumbai?

Harbhajan Singh: Obviously, we knew it is big, we have won the World Cup and people will be really happy. But it was very different, I cannot really describe in words. It was out of the world, people have really shown their love for us.

It was raining and it took us five good hours to reach the Wankhede Stadium. It was one of the best days of my life. And I really enjoyed it. I would like to thank all the fans and supporters for supporting us all the way and showing their love.

Nishant Arora: When you reached South Africa as a team, did you expect after 20 days you will be carrying this trophy because no one expected that?

Harbhajan Singh: I was in the UK playing county cricket, I had to join the team from there itself. We just went out there and as Dhoni said we just have to enjoy this format and nobody has played much Twenty20 cricket in India. He just said enjoy the game and play the best you can. We started really well against Pakistan and we won that crucial match.

It was fun to bowl in the 'bowl out' and the more and more matches we were playing we were getting better. When we beat South Africa and Australia we said 'Okay, this is our World Cup. We have to do it.' By god's grace, I'm happy that we are the World Champions. Looking forward to the series against Australia.

Nishant Arora: Personally speaking you were making a comeback and Twenty20 is not the ideal format to make a comeback because everyone likes a hit and it is totally a batsman-favoured game. So what was your frame of mind when you saw your name in the team sheet for the Twenty20 World Cup?

Harbhajan Singh: For me, it was grabbing every opportunity because I was not a part of the team in England and I was doing well in county cricket. I got a lot of wickets there. So it was a very good thing thing for me that I was playing some form of cricket. I was in good rhythm, playing well and when I performed in Twenty20 cricket I thought it is another good chance for me.

I knew every bowler somewhere, sometime in the tournament will go for runs. But if you take it that way, you'll definitely go for runs. Even if I go for runs, I'll still do the best for my team and try pick wickets for my team and do some tight bowling. That's what I was trying to do and with the grace of god, things turned up so nicely and I took those wickets, bowled beautifully and I'm really happy with things.

Nishant Arora: When someone looks at your career, there is a very strange thing. You are 27, a young bowler, at 27 many bowlers have not made their debut but you have taken 400 international wickets. That's massive. So your role in the team will be different. Like you have played a decade of international cricket now. So you will be a senior member, so how do you see your role in this new team?

Harbhajan Singh: My role in the team is different being a senior bowler. I still remember when I got my first Test cap, I was just 17. It has been a great journey. Lots of ups and downs but that's the way cricket is. God has been very kind, I'm 27, I still have a long way to go in cricket and just keeping myself fit, physically and mentally and serve my cricket for 5-7 years and who knows for 10 years. It's just up to me, how much I want it.

We are a young team, have a long way to go and Dhoni is a great skipper, he is very cool, a great guy, just the way he walks and the way he takes things. It was amazing to be there in South Africa and lifting the cup.

Nishant Arora: Looking at your career, do you see your comeback is complete in the One-Day side or you still believe you have your bit to do to show the world that you are truly back now?

Harbhajan Singh: I think I have played enough cricket to show people what I can do. Once you have done well, it's gone, but if you want to survive in international cricket, you have to keep on doing the same thing, keep on coming up with big performances. That's what I'm trying to do and I'm happy, trying to enjoy the moment.

We are World Champions, we have come back from South Africa with flying colours and now the Australia series is big not just for me, for everybody. Everybody knows how important this is. We are all looking forward to it. And I'm sure with the kind of team we have, the kind of confidence we have, we can beat Australia anytime, any day because we played some tough cricket out there in Twenty20 and it was not easy. And I'm sure we have the players and the guts to beat these guys.

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