MUMBAI, April 7: Harbhajan Singh’s childlike enthusiasm at 40-plus has floored Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain Dinesh Karthik, who said the veteran off-spinner’s dedication and interest at this stage of his career is a testament to his character.
After going unsold in the first round of IPL auctions earlier this year, Harbhajan, who also played for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in the past, was bought by KKR for Rs 2 crore, a move that had raised many eyebrows.
But Karthik said the veteran of 700-plus international wickets has overwhelmed everyone by his work ethic in the last one week after he joined the IPL side here.
“He has been coming to practice sessions early, much ahead of all other players, and he has been doing it consistently. I think he is a different man now from whatever little I have seen of him this week,” Karthik told during a practice match.
Karthik said Harbhajan has even been attending optional training sessions, where he is batting his heart out.
“Even in a practice game that starts at 7pm, he comes at 4 o’clock. He was batting before that, he bowled to Shakib (Al Hasan) and (Eoin) Morgan, and then did his stretching again before getting into the practice game,” Karthik said.
KKR will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening match on Sunday. (PTI)
