New Delhi: Selection snubs despite good performances have left him feeling hurt but veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh says being ignored repeatedly has not dampened his spirits and he would continue to try for a comeback in the national team.
Harbhajan finished this edition of IPL with 14 wickets from 14 games with an impressive economy rate of 6.47 (only third to Sunil Narine and Akshar Patel).
More importantly while other spinners barring Narine and Patel found it difficult to contain top-order batsmen, most of his victims included destructive players like Glen Maxwell and Chris Gayle to name a few.
"I do feel ignored and it's surely not a good feeling.
Yes, it hurts when you are not selected for India. My performance in this year's IPL is for everyone to see. I can do what's there in my control. But let me assure you, I might get hurt by the snub but it would not stall my comeback bid.
Among the Indian spinners, I believe that I bowled the best," the 33-year-old told PTI during an interaction.
It is quite ironic that while other players are being rewarded for their performance in domestic cricket, Harbhajan, after close to 700 international wickets and back-to-back successful IPLs and Champions League, is getting a raw deal.
Did he have any discussions with the selection committee to find out whether they have any specific plans for him, India's second highest wicket-taker retorted, "What do you mean by specific plans for me? My job is to bowl and win matches for my team. I am doing that to the best of my abilities. Beyond that I don't need to think about anything. I still have age on my side. And I certainly believe that I will play for India".