I have proved myself, says Harbhajan Singh

Music from a Gurdas Mann DVD is blaring in his room. Harbhajan Singh has taken the day off from Mumbai Indians' optional practice after the previous night's Indian Premier League match.

The room is in a mess as the cleaning staff at Sandton Sun hotel have not got the opportunity to clean his room because of the DND tag hanging on the doorknob.

Harbhajan does not believe in formalities. He offers you a chair while he coolly squats comfortably on the carpet. His voice is a tad low because of the heavy defeat against Royal Challengers but he is known to speak his mind and does not disappoint this time too.

Excerpts from an exclusive interview with the off-spinner:

What is it about Harbhajan that people who clash with him end up struggling while he goes from strength to strength? (We refer to the slapgate incident involving S Sreesanth, who is on the injured and non-playing list)

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I have not done anything to their careers. It is not my fault. Obviously, they have to back themselves and play. I can't do anything about it. I have made mistakes, I have learnt from them. Obviously, we all learn from our mistakes and we can all achieve a lot of good things. Life is much more than that what happened in Mohaliu2026 it was like a very bad dream for me which I don't even want to remember. I have moved on. I have proved myself as a person and a cricketer. If you look at my record from there onwards, I have played really well. I have been No 5-6 in ICC rankings, and I have taken 63 wickets last year for India and won a lot of games. For me, it was a challenge to prove myself again to the people that whatever I have done or whatever happened, don't forget that I am a good cricketer. I am really happy that God has given me strength to come up.

A lot of people are surprised with the mental strength you have shown... nothing seems to have affected your cricket...

Mere liye cricket sabse badi cheez hai, kuch bhi ho jaye main mere cricket ko kuch nahin hone doonga, kuch bhi (Cricket is the biggest thing for me. Let anything happen, I will not let my cricket get affected). Even if my hand is cut, with whatever strength is left I will try to bowl with one hand. I have only one thing on my mind: This game has given everything to meu2026 I have to do a lot for this game.

It is natural that these things will affect anyone's mind, so how do you shut out negative thoughts?

Jaise aap ki soch hai, waise hi aap banoge. If you think big, you will become big, if you think small, you will be small. If you are stuck in these petty thoughts, you will never prosper. I have not learnt to look back. I never meet people who are cowards. Sikhs are warriors, I am one of them, and I have always believed that. I can't tolerate wrong things. That's not me. I am straightforward and speak my mind. S ome people tolerate it and keep quiet. I can't do that. It's okay, I am happy, at least I am honest.

How is it batting at No 3 in the IPL? What has been your teammates'
reaction?

It is a new thingu2026 a new challenge. And I am really excited about it. I believe I have the potential to bat at No 3. I have done well when I have batted sensibly and I need to be more sensible when I play my shots.

Your best innings have been played when the team is in trouble...

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I get charged up when the situation is tough. That is the time you get a lot of satisfaction. When you have 500 on the board and then you go out to bat, the bowlers are already tired and then you thrash them. Mare hue ko marne ka shauk nahin hai mujhe (I am not the one to thrash the dead). But when the team is in trouble, I would want to be the man to be there and perform for the team. My team has a lot of confidence in me. Coach Gary Kirsten always tells me, you are a proper batsman. It's about how you apply your mind. Now, I have understood that just by hitting in the air you don't score runs. Runs can be scored playing along the ground.

So, who is your batting coach?

I spend a lot of time with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Earlier, I would not pay much attention, now I take the discussions more seriously. Viru keeps telling me that if I don't get a hundred, he will be very disappointed. He says Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori have got hundreds and 'you are a better batsman'. It is high time I get one.

What are Mumbai Indians' IPL prospects?

We can win, but we have to play a lot better than what we have been playing. It is all about taking responsibility and working on the plan. We need to be more consistent. None of us have played to our potential. Honestly, I am really disappointed with myself that I have not played to my potential. But I know I can come back and the team can come back.

How has been the experience of playing the IPL in South Africa compared to playing in India?

It's not like in India, but hats off to Lalit Modi and other BCCI officials. It is a very, very big effort. I never thought you could have this tournament played so smoothly in another country.