I want to play for India: Harbhajan

It is a happy Mumbai Indians dressing room. They have not just sealed a place in the Pepsi IPL 2015 playoffs, they have finished in the top two of the table. Lasith Malinga is busy on the phone with a smile on his face, Harbhajan Singh is gung-ho about the night’s victory, Rohit Sharma is in a happy space with his teammates and still reeling over their fairytale journey this season.

The Cranberries are blaring out of the speakers and singing out one of their top chart numbers - Zombie. Some of them are lip syncing it and breaking into a jig while the hungry ones have hit the dinner area for a quick nibble. In one silent corner, 26-year old England batsman and Mumbai Indians’ latest recruit Alex Hales is seated on a bean bag on his own and fiddling with his phone.

Hales is aware of what’s going on around him but certainly doesn’t look quite in the mix of it. He stands up, shares a few smiles, congratulates his new ‘teammates’ and hits the couch again. In the process he is soaking each moment of the IPL - of what he claims to be the pinnacle of T20 cricket.

Hours before the start of the game Hales had just landed from London, and with hardly a breather he is here with a Mumbai Indians jersey on. Jet lagged one would have thought, but Hales claims the excitement of being a part of the IPL just surpassed every other feeling he had in his body. Not picked up by any franchise in the auction, months later blasts six consecutive sixes in a T20 competition in England and the next morning he is on a flight to India to be a part of the IPL.

In a chat with iplt20.com, Hales speaks about the last 72 hours of his life which includes his dream come true moment. Read on to find out more.

Two days ago you hit six sixes, a day later you are on a flight to India and now here you are wearing the Mumbai Indians jersey in the IPL. That is some quick turn of events. (Smiles) It has been a hectic few days for me.

This afternoon when I came to the hotel, I was a little bit tired and thought I might just sneak in a little bit of sleep before the game. But once I got here, it was all about the adrenaline. I think the excitement just took over all the tiredness.

I am loving the atmosphere and everything that the IPL symbolizes. I enjoyed watching the game from the dugout tonight. So far, the few hours that I have been here with the Mumbai Indians, I have loved my experience.

What does an IPL opportunity mean to you?It is such a massive tournament; it has been my aim and goal to get into this tournament. When I found out for sure that I would be a part of it on Friday, it was just elation for me at that moment. It was like a dream come true to come and play in this tournament.

I have been desperate to get into this competition now for a couple of years. I feel the IPL is the pinnacle of T20 cricket around the world. For me to get a chance like this is a great honour.

It is a great opportunity to come over here. Even if I don’t get a game, hopefully it is a door for one next year.How disappointed were you when you didn’t get picked by any franchise in the IPL auction?I was disappointed because T20 cricket is probably the game that I favour the most and suits me best.

I didn’t know what to expect from the auctions. I just went in with an open mind and I told myself that I wasn’t going to get too down if I wasn’t picked up in the auction. I would have obviously loved to be picked up but I wasn’t leaning towards it anyway.

Unfortunately it didn’t happen straight away but I am delighted to get the chance now. This is a great opportunity for me to hopefully cement a place in the side for a few years. You’ve been in the news for your six consecutive sixes; tell us a bit more about that feat you achieved.

I will be honest; I didn’t even know I had hit six sixes in a row because they came in different overs. I had no idea that it happened. It wasn’t until the game got over that I found out.

It is a massive honour for me because these are things that happen very rarely in your career. For me, it was a proud night. I think T20 can be like that, when you get yourself on a roll, you begin to see the ball bigger than you ever have and you feel that you can take down any bowler.

That night was one of those nights where it happened and hopefully it can happen for the Mumbai Indians at some point of time. The Mumbai Indians look like a settled unit at the moment with opener Lendl Simmons also firing well. Do you realise you might not get an opportunity in the eleven this time around?I think I have just got to be patient.

The way Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel batted tonight, it was beautiful. The guys are in great form here so it is up to me to train hard, try and impress the coaches behind the scenes and make sure that if I do get a chance, I am ready to take it with both hands. I have played a bit of cricket in India before and played a few T20s for England a couple of years ago.

I have played in Kolkata, Pune and at the Wankhede. I know the atmosphere here is fantastic and I also know the pressure that comes with it. It is nothing new to me and I would love to be a part of it.

I am itching to get a game but if the chance doesn’t come across this year, then I will keep my fingers crossed to get a go next year. I will be ready to take my opportunity. Form per say, how good are you feeling about your batting? It is obviously a great time for me to find some form in the game back home scoring an unbeaten 80.

My first-class form has been brilliant and I have been the leading run-scorer in the country so far in four-day cricket and we have only had the one T20 where I have got an unbeaten 80. I couldn’t really be in a better place in terms of my form. If I do get a chance, then I am in a great place to hopefully take the opportunity.

Even if it is for a week, this experience has got to augur you well going forward isn’t it?The best thing about the IPL is being surrounded by quality players and experts. Getting a chance to share the dressing room with two of my heroes growing up - Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting - is great. These are guys you can pick the brains of so that you can develop your own game.

I have been following the tournament closely back home. The run of form that Mumbai Indians have been since the last five games has been brilliant. Hopefully we can go all the way now.

Has your dream come true moment sunk in?I think the moment has sunk in finally. It will be an incredible experience if we manage to make that final on Sunday and that would be dream come true for me considering that I wasn’t even picked in the auction. To be in this spot now is a great privilege.

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