Harbhajan Singh says he hopes to make Indian squad for Australia tour

Out of favor offspinner Harbhajan Singh believes he has another five to six years of cricket left in him and hopes to be in the selectors mix when the Indian team is chosen for the Australia tour In an interview given to News 24 editorinchief Anurradha Prasad on her weekly show Aamne Samne Harbhajan said I do have another five to six years of cricket in me Picture Abhi Baaki Hai I think I can still contribute to the side for some time I dont know anything other than cricket and people know me for this only Its my passion Known as Bhajji in Indian cricket circles the offspinner it is good for the team that new spinners are coming forward and performing well for the side Competition is good for the side I am not afraid of competition If I was afraid of competition I wouldnt have played international cricket for 13 years If there is no competition the level of the game will not rise To take the team forward we must have more options If these guys can play for long time and develop it will be good for the team I welcome the inclusion of new guys in the team he said On what he though were his chances of making it to the Indian squad for Australia Harbhajan said My job is to play cricket and perform and not worry about selection its the selectors job On being asked what is it that brings out his best against Australia he said I enjoy playing against Australia they are still a very good side and tough competitors on the field They are very aggressive and we need to be aggressive to counter them or they will start dominating you I still remember the famous series in 2001 where I took 32 wickets in 3 tests and the Australian media gave me the name turbanator I go to the field to play cricket and not listen to abuses or sledging if they say something I will give it back Recalling the Monkey Gate affair on Indias last tour Down Under 200708 Harbhajan said Something happened in that match where we might have had to bat again I was batting with Sachin and made 66 and they didnt like the fact that a tail ender was scoring runs and not getting out so they said something I had to reply I cant tell you on TV what they said and what I said but it just happened they provoked me Harbhajan also cleared the air on his relationship with former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds saying I share a very healthy relationship with Symonds We have played together at Mumbai Indians He told me he was not upset with me but was annoyed with his team management who did not support him and blew the matter out of proportion On slapping S Sreesanth during IPL1 Harbhajan said We were losing three matches on the trot and Sreesanth said something and I reacted wrongly It was wrong on my part to do that and I apologised I was ashamed and regretted afterwards It was a very bad time for me as I was banned I take full responsibility for what happened back then Now I have calmed down a lot I was very aggressive in the beginning and used to react spontaneously I am a very emotional and expressive person by nature I have a lot of energy inside me and I have realized how to use this energy best Everyone learns from mistakes and I have also done that He also described his antics on the field as spontaneous and done with a sense of joy Whether I take one wicket or ten they are all for the country and that makes me happy I express my happiness on the field as I am a very expressive person by nature Harbhajan said He also recalled the tough time the senior players had Greg Chappells tenure as coach It was one of the worst phases of Indian cricket He Chappell had divided the team completely It is wrong to say that he got the youngsters their due he only divided the team by creating insecurity in the team I was insecure Sachin was insecure I was told if I took five wickets only then will I play the next match It was not a happy feeling in the team and if you compare it with Kirstens tenure the results will say everything Now the team is united and happy On being asked about Suresh Rainas comment that Chappell brought a lot of youngsters in the team and made Dhoni captain Harbhajan said Youngsters always get chances to play in the team Chappell cant take credit for this He did not make Dhoni the captain Harbhajan described Dhoni as best ever Indian captain he has played under He has a cool head and is very calculative He is intelligent and knowledgeable He reads a lot about everything not just cricket He reads on everything from a bullet to the engine of an air plane the offspinner said Harbhajan said that rumors of a rift between him and Dhoni over an ad campaign were untrue He said It was an issue between me and the company that created that ad featuring Dhoni We discussed the issue and Dhoni told me that he did not know the story line of the ad or he would have not done it Harbhajan said he missed former legspinner Anil Kumble Anil Bhai used to create so much pressure from the other end that it became easy for me to claim wickets from the other I miss him but consult him whenever I need some help he said Bhajji said he was praying for Sachin to complete his 100th century at his home ground in Mumbai I am praying he does it in Mumbai There is no one better than him I really hope he does it in Mumbai He deserves it at his home ground said Harbhajan