Yuvraj Singh would have been a great captain: Harbhajan Singh

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that his career would not have been longer than it was had his mate and former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh been the skipper of the national team. The off-spinner reckons that every captain he played under, picked him based on merit. Harbhajan made his international debut in 1998 and played his last game for India in 2016.

The 41-year-old stated that it is important for captains to do what the team needs before anything else. He added that no captain saved players from getting the axe. Yuvraj and Harbhajan played together for India for most of their career. They were also teammates in the 2011 World Cup which India went on to win. Meanwhile, Harbhajan also feels that Yuvraj would have made a great captain.

Whenever you captain the country, you need to keep friendships aside: Harbhajan Singh

Talking to Sportskeeda, Harbhajan spoke about captaining India, and his early days as a cricketer. He said that when one leads the national team, friendships must be kept aside and the country must come first. He joked that if Yuvraj captained India, players would have had to sleep early and wake up early. He felt that the all-rounder would have been a great leader, emphasising Yuvraj’s credentials.

Yuvraj was the Man of the Tournament of the ICC World Cup 2011. He was among both the top 10 wicket-takers and run-getters of the tournament. Harbhajan said, “I don’t think any of our careers would have been prolonged had Yuvraj been the captain. Because whatever we have played we have done it on our ability and no captain has saved us from getting the axe. Whenever you captain the country, you need to keep friendships aside and think of the country first.”

“If Yuvraj Singh would have been Indian captain, we would have had to sleep early and wake up early (laughs). We would have to do a lot of hard work. He would have been a great captain. His records speak for themselves as he won the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup, a title that gives us respect,” he added

Recalling his early days in cricket, the off-spinner revealed that he started out as a batter and a fast bowler. “I started off as a batter but was also a fast bowler. Don’t know how I ended up as a spinner. But probably when I was asked what I do, I should have said that I bat. Because when you’re a batter and play for India, whole world is at your feet. You will hardly find a bowler being a ‘superstar’ as this is the batter’s game. People want to see fours and sixes hit,” said Harbhajan further.