Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is keen to see young pacer Umran Malik and pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia later this year. 22-year-old Malik, who is currently playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad Indian Premier League Leaning continuously over the 150 kmph mark. Malik, who has picked up 15 wickets so far, has bowled at 157 kmph, the fastest in the ongoing IPL.
“He (Umran Malik) is my favourite, I want to see him in the Indian team because what a bowler he is,” Harbhajan told reporters here on Friday.
Harbhajan was speaking after ‘DreamSetGo’ became the official travel agent for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.
“Tell me any one bowler who bowls more than 150 (kmph) and is not playing for the country. So, I think it’s a great thing and he inspires many youngsters to take up this game.” Where did he come from and what he is doing in the IPL, that is unbelievable.”
Harbhajan said that if he was in the national selection committee, the Jammu pacer would have been included in the Indian team.
“And I don’t know if he will be picked or not, but if I was part of the selection committee, I would have gone ahead. Umran Malik should be with Jasprit Bumrah when India play in Australia (for T20 World Cup) ” The former off-spinner said.
“I am sure he (Umran) will learn too, he is a promising cricketer and I hope he gets selected and plays for India.” Harbhajan said that his age should not be a factor while considering the 22-year-old Malik for the national team.
“When Sachin (Tendulkar) played for India, he was very young. Of course, he was Sachin Tendulkar, but that’s okay, ‘aise hi khiladi bante hai’ (players are made this way).
“When I played my first Test, I was 17 and a half years old, but if you keep thinking he’s a kid, time will run out. When he’s bowling at his best, he should play. Forget it. No matter what his age is, when someone is performing well and is fit enough, they should go in,” Harbhajan said.
Kohli backs Rohit’s good performance ahead of T20 World Cup
Stating that going through a lean patch is part of a player’s career, Harbhajan backed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to roar back long before the T20 World Cup to be held in October-November.
“Of course they are champion players, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, they are champions, world class players, I hope they get back to form long before the (T20) World Cup.
“It (the lean patch) is a part and parcel of the game, everyone goes through it and I am sure they will come out of it and they will always come out stronger and better from this (phase),” Harbhajan said.
‘Kulcha’ backs to be part of Indian squad for T20 WC
Harbhajan also backed the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal to board a flight to Australia for the T20 World Cup.
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“I definitely believe you have to bring back ‘Kulcha’. Kuldeep and Yuzvendra, I think they have been fantastic for Team India. When they played together, they took wickets in the middle overs, no matter what Be it T20, ODI or any format,” he said.
“I don’t know why they (the selectors) break the partnership that was going well for India. It would be great to see them bowling in Australia, where the grounds are bigger and they are both quality bowlers,” he said.
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