Harbhajan Singh is back into India’s Test squad after a long wait of two years. And the veteran spinner cannot wait to get on the field donning the India whites.
As he prepares to make his Test comeback, one major change for Harbhajan is that this time he will be playing under a new captain – Virat Kohli. And the off-spinner has nothing but praise for his young Test captain.
"Virat is a match-winner, someone who is very competitive,” Harbhajan said while addressing the media before departing to Bangladesh. “No matter what the situation is, he always wants to win, which is a great quality as a player.
“Having him as the captain certainly helps the team a lot as he is always looking for the win. I have played a lot with him, he is very positive and he is someone who is always there for the team. He wants to take up challenges and wants to finish up the game, which is very important form the team's point of view.”
Harbhajan believes the team will feed off of their captain’s energy and positivity. “Having a captain who has so much of energy is a very positive sign. The way Indian team played in Australia was brilliant. Though we didn't win the Test match that intent was there and that's what Virat Kohli brings to the table. Whatever he does on the field, he does it to win the game.”
The change in leadership will not change his role in the bowling attack, believes Harbhajan.
"My role would be the same what it was five years back - to win games for India and help other bowlers in the team. We need to work as a unit and it is not about me. There are other bowlers and we all would look to back each other.
"That is what I have been doing while I was playing with Anil Kumble, Amit Mishra and other bowlers. The goal is the same- to win for India. I am very excited and hopefully I can contribute to the team's success."
The seasoned senior bowler said he was looking to bowling in tandem with fellow off-spinner, R Ashwin.
"Bowling with Ashwin will be good. His motive as well as mine is to win the game for India. We are going there as a team and we need to push everyone together towards the direction of victory," he said.
