‘Ready’ to play for India in T20Is, says offie Harbhajan

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) slow bowler Harbhajan, joint third-highest wicket-taker in IPL with 150 scalps, last featured for India in 2016. “I am ready,” Harbhajan told ESPNcricinfo in an interview. “IPL is a very difficult tournament for bowlers because the grounds are smaller and all the top players in world cricket play in it.

“It is very challenging to bowl against them and if you can do well against them in IPL, you can do well in international cricket. I have bowled predominantly in the powerplay and middle overs and got wickets,” he added.

The 39-year-old said he is hurt as national selectors have not considered him despite his IPL success. “They will not look at me because they feel I am too old,” he said. “Also, I don’t play any domestic cricket. (In the) Last four-five years, they did not look at me even though I was doing well in IPL and taking wickets. I had all the records to back my case.”

According to Harbhajan, IPL is the toughest T20 tournament and considering he has been able to perform well in the league, he opined he could make a return to the national team. “In international cricket, not all teams have quality players like IPL sides, where every team has a top-six which is good,” he said.

“Yes, Australia, England and India have all got very good batting line-ups. But if I can get Johnny Bairstow and David Warner out in IPL, don’t you think I can get them in international cricket? But, it is not in my hands. No one comes and talks to you in this present Indian set-up,” he added.

Harbhajan has played 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 28 T20Is, in which he has scalped 417, 269 and 25 wickets respectively.