Cricket can wait, daughter Hinaya is top priority for Harbhajan Singh
“I’ve been playing cricket for almost 18-19 years now. This (marriage and fatherhood) is happening to me for the first time,” says cricketer Harbhajan Singh.
Still nourishing hopes of a national recall, Harbhajan Singh is enjoying seven-month-old daughter Hinaya Heer Plaha’s growing up. Harbhajan Singh last played for India in World T20 versus UAE in March, 2016.
“This had to happen. She will always be (my) priority now,” says off-spinner and Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh. He and wife, actor Geeta Basra, welcomed their baby in July last year.
“My daughter is growing up and I want to live every moment of it,” said the 36-year-old spinner, who has been playing a lot of domestic cricket to remain in the eyes of the national selector.
“I haven’t played (international) cricket in the last 8-9 months, but I can still get back to it. I can’t not be there for my daughter when she is growing up. That won’t come back,” said Harbhajan.
The cricketer insists that this is how he wanted things to be.
“I’ve been playing cricket for almost 18-19 years now. This (marriage and fatherhood) is happening to me for the first time. Now, it’s all about family. Whatever I’ve achieved so far in life and in the future is for them. My family is my world,” he says.
Leading Punjab in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, Harbhajan Singh is looking ahead to the Indian Premier League. He is a key member of the Mumbai Indians team.
“I know I can still give the Indian team a lot. That’s why I’m still competing,” said the Turbanator, who has 417 Test, 269 ODI and 25 T20 international wickets.