How people remember me is important than records: Harbhajan
1 April 2013 2:01 AM GMT
From flummoxing an all-conquering Australian side to being dropped from the Indian team, Harbhajan Singh’s journey in international cricket has been a roller coaster one, but he says its rigours have taught him to ‘value relationships’ above everything else.
‘When I played 100 Tests, it felt great but I have started realising that more important are the relationships that you have developed over the years,’ the 32-year-old off-spinner said on Sunday.
‘It’s those you have played cricket with and have known along the way. I would rather be known as a cricketer who was a good human being than being dubbed as a top player and an equally worse human being,’ he added.
For Harbhajan, if 90 out of 100 people like him, he will consider it as an achievement. ‘I only hope that when I stop playing the game, people would say that they cherished being in my company. I know 100 out of 100 guys won’t say the same but I want at least 90 people to say that ‘Bhajji achha insaan tha (Bhajji wasn’t a bad human being),’ the veteran of 101 Tests said. Harbhajan did admit that he was a bit ‘nervous’going into his 100th Test, but things got better in the second innings.
‘Obviously, 100 Tests was big thing considering from where I had come. I never imagined I would reach this far. In the first innings in Chennai, I was nervous but it got better in the second innings. In Hyderabad, I bowled well in the first innings. But in the second, I didn’t bowl much. The other bowlers were getting wickets in every five overs and the captain was right in continuing with them. I know that I have tried my best and have no complaints.’
‘When I played 100 Tests, it felt great but I have started realising that more important are the relationships that you have developed over the years,’ the 32-year-old off-spinner said on Sunday.
‘It’s those you have played cricket with and have known along the way. I would rather be known as a cricketer who was a good human being than being dubbed as a top player and an equally worse human being,’ he added.
For Harbhajan, if 90 out of 100 people like him, he will consider it as an achievement. ‘I only hope that when I stop playing the game, people would say that they cherished being in my company. I know 100 out of 100 guys won’t say the same but I want at least 90 people to say that ‘Bhajji achha insaan tha (Bhajji wasn’t a bad human being),’ the veteran of 101 Tests said. Harbhajan did admit that he was a bit ‘nervous’going into his 100th Test, but things got better in the second innings.
‘Obviously, 100 Tests was big thing considering from where I had come. I never imagined I would reach this far. In the first innings in Chennai, I was nervous but it got better in the second innings. In Hyderabad, I bowled well in the first innings. But in the second, I didn’t bowl much. The other bowlers were getting wickets in every five overs and the captain was right in continuing with them. I know that I have tried my best and have no complaints.’
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