`I'm not a God': Harbhajan
India may be at defeat's door, but it was a defiant Harbhajan Singh that addressed the media after a sixth consecutive five-for in home Tests against Australia
Dileep Premachandran in Bangalore
23-Jun-2005
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India may be at defeat's door, but it was a defiant Harbhajan Singh that addressed the media after a sixth consecutive five-for in home Tests against Australia. He bowled magnificently today, picking up 6 for 78 as Australia were restricted to 228 in their second innings. Harbhajan took aim at some of his more strident critics, and then insisted that India would come back hard at the Aussies, like they did back in 2001.
On whether India are reconciled to defeat
The match is still going on. Rahul [Dravid] is still at the wicket.
The match is still going on. Rahul [Dravid] is still at the wicket.
On the batting
We haven't been at our best. Sachin [Tendulkar] not playing was a big blow for us. And we also got a couple of bad decisions. But in the first innings, we gave away too many runs, and then didn't bat well enough.
We haven't been at our best. Sachin [Tendulkar] not playing was a big blow for us. And we also got a couple of bad decisions. But in the first innings, we gave away too many runs, and then didn't bat well enough.
On the remarkable streak against Australia, and whether they have a weakness against his offspin
I don't know what it is, but it's a good habit to have against the best team in the world. I just go out there and bowl my best.
I don't know what it is, but it's a good habit to have against the best team in the world. I just go out there and bowl my best.
On the support from the close-in cordon
It's great to have fielders like Aakash Chopra, Yuvraj Singh at forward short leg, and to have someone like Dravid in the slips. When you bowl, you know that they won't be dropping catches. It was the same last time, when SS Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh took some great catches.
It's great to have fielders like Aakash Chopra, Yuvraj Singh at forward short leg, and to have someone like Dravid in the slips. When you bowl, you know that they won't be dropping catches. It was the same last time, when SS Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh took some great catches.
On those who have criticised him in the recent past
They have got their answer. I hope they'll keep quiet for some time now. I'm not a God, and you can't expect me to take 32 wickets every time. Sometimes I'll bowl badly, sometimes I'll go for runs.
They have got their answer. I hope they'll keep quiet for some time now. I'm not a God, and you can't expect me to take 32 wickets every time. Sometimes I'll bowl badly, sometimes I'll go for runs.
On the contentious umpiring decisions
That's part of the game, and I can't say anything about it. They are good umpires, and you can't do much about it. Not me at least (laughs).
That's part of the game, and I can't say anything about it. They are good umpires, and you can't do much about it. Not me at least (laughs).
On Tendulkar's possible return to the side
When he comes back, we'll be a different side. He's a great batsman, no matter what kind of pitch, and he's confident that he will be back for Chennai. He also takes a few wickets with his legspin (smiles).
When he comes back, we'll be a different side. He's a great batsman, no matter what kind of pitch, and he's confident that he will be back for Chennai. He also takes a few wickets with his legspin (smiles).
On what he did differently in the second innings
I was bowling in the right spots. There were a few marks on the pitch, and I concentrated on those.
I was bowling in the right spots. There were a few marks on the pitch, and I concentrated on those.