New Delhi, June 3: Indian all-rounder Harsh Dubey has been selected for the upcoming Test and ODI series against Afghanistan. In a recent statement, Dubey expressed his desire to play alongside cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma before they retire. He shared that sharing the field and dressing room with them has always been a dream of his.
Playing domestic cricket for Vidarbha, Dubey remarked on GeoStar, “If you ask any young cricketer who they want to play with, the first two names will be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. I grew up watching them. Since I began to understand cricket, they have been performing exceptionally for India and dominating world cricket. Therefore, getting the chance to play alongside them would be a significant achievement for me.”
He added, “I always wanted to play with at least one legend before they retire or during their last phase. If I get to play even one match with them, it would feel like a dream come true.”
Dubey recounted his surprise upon being named for the Sri Lanka-Afghanistan A team ODI triangular series. “When my name came up, I thought I wasn’t in the team. So, I told myself to focus on the IPL and think about the triangular series later. I had no idea my name would be called, let alone for both formats. I can’t find words to express my happiness.”
Reflecting on his selection for the Indian team, Dubey said, “We arrived at the airport and learned our flight was delayed by an hour. I received a call from someone managing a cricket social media page, asking how I felt about my name being in the ODI series. Due to the noise and network issues in the lounge, I thought they were talking about the Sri Lanka A ODI triangular series. I said it felt like I was one step closer to my dream, while still focusing on the IPL.”
After hanging up, he received messages confirming his call-up for both formats. “I was in disbelief because the team announcement had just been made. I quickly checked online and saw the news. Honestly, it took me a few minutes to grasp what had happened. When Murali sir asked me who the other spin bowlers were, I told him I had only seen my name. It truly felt like I was dreaming.”
The left-arm spinner stated, “If you ask any cricketer, they will say they want to play for India and for a long time. However, rather than thinking too far ahead, I prefer to focus on one game at a time, on what I can do today. If I’m playing an IPL match today, my focus is on how I can improve. If I play for India tomorrow, I will concentrate on what I can do for my team rather than thinking about the next ten years.”
Dubey expressed, “I don’t want to think too far ahead about playing in the 2027 World Cup or winning the World Test Championship for India. I just want to stay present and make the most of what’s in front of me.”
Regarding captain Shubman Gill, Dubey said, “I genuinely want to see how Shubman Gill is as a person. As an opponent, you can never fully understand someone or how they are as a captain. I enjoy playing with captains who are aggressive and competitive on the field. No matter how calm and composed you are off the field, I believe you need that aggression on the field, and I like playing with those who bring that intensity.”
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