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I play to win games, not friends: Bhajji
Harbhajan Singh says he would be at his feisty best when India take on Australia in the Test series because he plays to win and not to make friends
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: October 09, 2008 05:37 PM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Melbourne:
"Obviously when I play for my country I go out there to win games, I'm not there to make friends," Harbhajan told 'Fox Sports'.
"So you'll expect the same sort of fighting spirit. I am very passionate about my game and I get involved in the game. I want to do everything right and I want to win each and every game for my country. That's the way I am and that's never going to change," he added.
The flamboyant off-spinner, who was at the center of an ugly race row with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during India's tour here earlier this year, however, maintained that he has learnt from his mistakes.
"We all make mistakes. With time, you learn about life and things which you regret later on, I shouldn't have done that," he said.
"But I'm not someone like a god. I'm human, people make mistakes. I must have made mistakes and I'm sure I've learned from my mistakes," he added.
Harbhajan attributed part of his aggressive persona to being a Sikh, saying that his religion preaches its followers to be warriors and winners.
"Being a Sikh, to go through the Sikh history, they have been warriors, they don't like to lose, they don't like to get defeat in any kind of thing that they do," he explained.
"That's the way I am and that's never going to change," he said.
India lost the 2004 home series against Australia but Harbhajan feels this time, his team would be more than a handful for the world champions.
"We have a very good side and we are probably the only team that have given them a run for their money," he said.
"Every time they play against us, they know we are tough. Especially when we play in India, we are a totally different team."
He claims to have learnt from his mistakes and is tired of being embroiled in controversies but Harbhajan Singh refuses to change and says he would be at his feisty best when India take on Australia in the upcoming Test series because he plays to win and not to make friends."Obviously when I play for my country I go out there to win games, I'm not there to make friends," Harbhajan told 'Fox Sports'.
"So you'll expect the same sort of fighting spirit. I am very passionate about my game and I get involved in the game. I want to do everything right and I want to win each and every game for my country. That's the way I am and that's never going to change," he added.
The flamboyant off-spinner, who was at the center of an ugly race row with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during India's tour here earlier this year, however, maintained that he has learnt from his mistakes.
"We all make mistakes. With time, you learn about life and things which you regret later on, I shouldn't have done that," he said.
"But I'm not someone like a god. I'm human, people make mistakes. I must have made mistakes and I'm sure I've learned from my mistakes," he added.
Harbhajan attributed part of his aggressive persona to being a Sikh, saying that his religion preaches its followers to be warriors and winners.
"Being a Sikh, to go through the Sikh history, they have been warriors, they don't like to lose, they don't like to get defeat in any kind of thing that they do," he explained.
"That's the way I am and that's never going to change," he said.
India lost the 2004 home series against Australia but Harbhajan feels this time, his team would be more than a handful for the world champions.
"We have a very good side and we are probably the only team that have given them a run for their money," he said.
"Every time they play against us, they know we are tough. Especially when we play in India, we are a totally different team."
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket
Harbhajan Singh
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