MUMBAI: There's an intriguing factor that Harbhajan Singh tells you about Ambati Rayudu, with whom he shared the dressing room for a decade while taking part in for the Mumbai Indians till final 12 months, prior to each moved to the Chennai Super Kings this season.
"He's an introvert. He doesn't mingle with people too much. When I was with MI, I hardly saw him outside the ground. Can you believe it that he doesn't even have a phone! There's a hindi film dialogue na: Don ko dhundna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai (it's not just difficult, but impossible to find Don). The same applies to Rayudu!," chuckles the veteran off-spinner, while selling his show 'Bhajji Blast'.
ALSO READ: Kohli now not a gadget, even rocket fuel shouldn't have helped him: Shastri
He additionally finds the reason why his different CSK teammate, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, isn't celebrating after taking a wicket on this version of the IPL. "He says I don't celebrate IPL wickets. This time, he just shakes his head, and mutters: 'ho gaya chal (it's done)." Having performed for India and in the IPL for two high-profile groups for 20 years in an epic career which noticed him pick 417 wickets in 103 Tests, the tweaker with plenty of sense of humour knows many of the secrets and quirky behavior of India's best cricketers. He additionally tells you what he still does not know yet however is curious to determine: "The night when we were celebrating our World Cup triumph in 2011, MS Dhoni suddenly went to his room, and came back like 'shakaal' (a popular villainous character from the movie Shaan). He didn't go to any barber to shave off his head. I still don't know why he did it."
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli to go through rehab for neck damage
'Bhajji,' regardless that, has a number of appreciate for his CSK and previous India captain. Has Dhoni answered his critics on this IPL, you ask him. Has he sealed any argument around his place till the World Cup subsequent 12 months? "The World Cup is still very far. This (the IPL) is a different tournament and format. People will continue to question Dhoni. You can't stop them, but Dhoni's still a class, world champion player. He's been India's best ODI player. We don't need to talk about his performances, let his bat do that. He's a legend of Indian cricket," praises the 37-year-old.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli's Surrey saga: 20 (confusing) questions
The whole country seems to be sweating over a neck damage to India skipper Virat Kohli, which forced the batting celebrity to leave out his much-hyped maiden stint in county cricket (with Surrey), or even places his availability for the England excursion in slight doubt. Harbhajan, then again, feels that this blow generally is a 'blessing in disguise' for the 29-year-old.
"He should be fine. It (the injury) isn't that's serious. There's a lot of time (for the England tour, which begins in July). It's good that he's not playing county cricket, because he needs rest to recover (from his injury). It could be a blessing in disguise. He'll be much better prepared for the bigger things than playing county cricket. And I'm sure he's still a good player without county cricket," he says, prior to telling you about how taxing the IPL will also be at the avid gamers. "The IPL is a hectic tournament. You travel so much, and play every second-third day. It looks very glamorous on TV, when you see fours and sixes being hit. But in the end, its' tough (on the players). You've to pack, unpack and check out, check in of hotels all the time. There's no time to rest. All the players feel that there should be a 15-day break after the IPL."
How does he fee India's probabilities in England this summer season. "It's a great opportunity (to win a Test series in England). This team has the potential to do it. It won't be easy, though. It will take a lot of hard work, but this team has the ability to do so. It's a long tour. Keeping that in mind, (our) fitness has to be at the top level. The bowlers will have to bowl a lot of overs. Whenever we tour, we feel we've the team to win abroad. But in the end, it all depends on how the wickets will be, whether our fast bowling unit will be fit at that time. A lot will depend on whether guys like Virat and KL (Rahul) will bat at their best. So, it's about the form of the players at that point," he feels.
He admits it was once difficult to don the CSK jersey and play his ex-side MI in the opening game of this IPL itself. "It was a mixed feeling. I was like, 'What am I doing in the (rival) dressing room. And my (jersey) colour is suddenly yellow. This is different.' When that game got over, I was like 'Thank God, it was the first match!." By now, regardless that, he is more at ease in the CSK dugout. "After that, it's been a great journey, coming from one great team to another. Luckily, things didn't change too much. I was playing in the IPL final there (with MI), and now here too!"
The prospect of taking part in any other IPL ultimate, this time for CSK regardless that, has left the offie "excited." "As the game comes closer, you get nervous. But we'll win for sure." "Before the IPL auction this year, I'd said that whichever team 'buys' me, will win the IPL. And look, CSK are on the verge of winning the trophy!" he grins.
"He's an introvert. He doesn't mingle with people too much. When I was with MI, I hardly saw him outside the ground. Can you believe it that he doesn't even have a phone! There's a hindi film dialogue na: Don ko dhundna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai (it's not just difficult, but impossible to find Don). The same applies to Rayudu!," chuckles the veteran off-spinner, while selling his show 'Bhajji Blast'.
ALSO READ: Kohli now not a gadget, even rocket fuel shouldn't have helped him: Shastri
He additionally finds the reason why his different CSK teammate, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, isn't celebrating after taking a wicket on this version of the IPL. "He says I don't celebrate IPL wickets. This time, he just shakes his head, and mutters: 'ho gaya chal (it's done)." Having performed for India and in the IPL for two high-profile groups for 20 years in an epic career which noticed him pick 417 wickets in 103 Tests, the tweaker with plenty of sense of humour knows many of the secrets and quirky behavior of India's best cricketers. He additionally tells you what he still does not know yet however is curious to determine: "The night when we were celebrating our World Cup triumph in 2011, MS Dhoni suddenly went to his room, and came back like 'shakaal' (a popular villainous character from the movie Shaan). He didn't go to any barber to shave off his head. I still don't know why he did it."
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli to go through rehab for neck damage
'Bhajji,' regardless that, has a number of appreciate for his CSK and previous India captain. Has Dhoni answered his critics on this IPL, you ask him. Has he sealed any argument around his place till the World Cup subsequent 12 months? "The World Cup is still very far. This (the IPL) is a different tournament and format. People will continue to question Dhoni. You can't stop them, but Dhoni's still a class, world champion player. He's been India's best ODI player. We don't need to talk about his performances, let his bat do that. He's a legend of Indian cricket," praises the 37-year-old.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli's Surrey saga: 20 (confusing) questions
The whole country seems to be sweating over a neck damage to India skipper Virat Kohli, which forced the batting celebrity to leave out his much-hyped maiden stint in county cricket (with Surrey), or even places his availability for the England excursion in slight doubt. Harbhajan, then again, feels that this blow generally is a 'blessing in disguise' for the 29-year-old.
"He should be fine. It (the injury) isn't that's serious. There's a lot of time (for the England tour, which begins in July). It's good that he's not playing county cricket, because he needs rest to recover (from his injury). It could be a blessing in disguise. He'll be much better prepared for the bigger things than playing county cricket. And I'm sure he's still a good player without county cricket," he says, prior to telling you about how taxing the IPL will also be at the avid gamers. "The IPL is a hectic tournament. You travel so much, and play every second-third day. It looks very glamorous on TV, when you see fours and sixes being hit. But in the end, its' tough (on the players). You've to pack, unpack and check out, check in of hotels all the time. There's no time to rest. All the players feel that there should be a 15-day break after the IPL."
How does he fee India's probabilities in England this summer season. "It's a great opportunity (to win a Test series in England). This team has the potential to do it. It won't be easy, though. It will take a lot of hard work, but this team has the ability to do so. It's a long tour. Keeping that in mind, (our) fitness has to be at the top level. The bowlers will have to bowl a lot of overs. Whenever we tour, we feel we've the team to win abroad. But in the end, it all depends on how the wickets will be, whether our fast bowling unit will be fit at that time. A lot will depend on whether guys like Virat and KL (Rahul) will bat at their best. So, it's about the form of the players at that point," he feels.
He admits it was once difficult to don the CSK jersey and play his ex-side MI in the opening game of this IPL itself. "It was a mixed feeling. I was like, 'What am I doing in the (rival) dressing room. And my (jersey) colour is suddenly yellow. This is different.' When that game got over, I was like 'Thank God, it was the first match!." By now, regardless that, he is more at ease in the CSK dugout. "After that, it's been a great journey, coming from one great team to another. Luckily, things didn't change too much. I was playing in the IPL final there (with MI), and now here too!"
The prospect of taking part in any other IPL ultimate, this time for CSK regardless that, has left the offie "excited." "As the game comes closer, you get nervous. But we'll win for sure." "Before the IPL auction this year, I'd said that whichever team 'buys' me, will win the IPL. And look, CSK are on the verge of winning the trophy!" he grins.
Good that Virat isn't playing county cricket: Harbhajan
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 25, 2018
Rating: