Published On:Friday 27 January 2012
Bhajji switches to Kushti from Cricket, says that was my first love
BCCI offered him to coach Indian spin talent
In a big blow for the Indian Cricket Team, India's greatest Off Spin bowler Harbhajan Singh, popularly called Bhajji have switched to a different sport. He chose to wear wrestling (Kushti) cap rather than again playing for Indian Cricket Team.
"This was shocking news for me. I was thinking Bhajji to appoint as a coach for India's spin bowlers. I thought R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha will learn a lot under Bhajji's supervision. However, with this decision we have lost a great upcoming coach for spin bowlers," said N. Srinivasan, president of the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) heavy heartedly.
BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale said "I would recommend Bhajji to stay connected to cricket team. I don't commit but we may need some assistance from him. Right now, I would recommend him not to use Dusra in Kushti by directly entering into ring but just do some fundoo off-spin by staying as a host."
Expert commentator, Navjot Singh Siddhu said "When a person chews Jarda he doesn't need to wash his mouth and when Bhajji enters Kushti he will never come back to Cricket. Mind Srinivasan mind Jagdale."
Bhajji was all cool in spite of luring offer of becoming coach from the BCCI president. He said "Uski Maanki, I will teach Ashwin and if he doesn't learn I will hit hard on his face. It would be doubly effective than Srisanth. But tell Srinivasan, Ashwin has to come to the ring first to learn some art of cricketing."
Bhajji also told that he had an offer to open India's innings in the One Day International in Australia with an upcoming batsman R Ashwin but he declined by saying that his likes to use his bat freely then it would be a ball or something else.
Geeta Basra, hottest Bollywood heroine said "I am glad that Bhajji finally got some profession of his liking. Just to stay on the top of the Bombay Times, Zoom channel and Page 3 of other newspapers, I also visited the ring where Bhajji was demonstrating his sturdy acting skills."
When Bhajji was asked what he would like to do about his cricketing skills. He said "Bas, ek baar Jatt ko gussa aa jaaye to koi nahi bachtaa… Fighting is my first love and when I fought at Cricket everybody stopped me. Now I would stay with my first love."
In a short interview to Diggy Chacha Fan Club (DCFC) reporter and Times Of India (TOI) correspondent, Bhajji gave insights about his likings, his romance and his anger. When both of us asked him will he try wrestling too, he gently said ""Arrey nahin, woh sab apne bas ka nahin. Mike pakad ke baat kar liya, aur public ke saath interact kar liya, bas, itna bahut hai, ring mein jaane ki aur fight karne ki meri koi iccha nahin hai."
However, when TOI correspondent left, Bhajji provided a story to DCFC reporter, he said that replicating the success of Rajpal Yadav (New Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, one and only from Bollywood), he would definitely like to challenge Khalli. He also plans to challenge Rajpal Yadav in the ring.
"I am quite inspired by Rajpal Yadav who showed dust to Khalli in a superb wrestling match and therefore I plan to challenge both these wrestlers," Bhajji said.