MoM award is for my mother: Harbhajan

Colombo: Offspinner Harbhajan Singh, who made a memorable comeback to internataional cricket by helping India thrash England in a World Twenty20 group league match here, dedicated his Man-of-the-Match award to his mother and close friends who stood by him in his hour of crisis.

"It's been a hard year. Being out of the side. Other boys were doing really well, so it was really difficult for me to make a comeback," Harbhajan, who took 4 for 12 in India's 90-run win over defending champions England, said.

"This award is for my mom and those who have stuck with me," he added.

Harbhajan Singh took 4 for 12 in India\'s 90-run win over England on Sunday and was adjudged Man of the Match.

Harbhajan said the wicket in his second ball of international comeback gave him the much-needed confidence. "For me it was an important game. I hadn't played international cricket for a full year. Getting a wicket first or second ball gives you a lot of confidence," he said.

Asked about any change in his game, he said, "In T20 cricket, it's important to just read the game. I have tried to cut down my run-up a bit. I was running in too fast, and struggling to find my areas. So I was consciously coming in off a short run, and slowly," said the offspinner.

An emotional-looking Harbhajan said that he had always thought that he would make a come back and play for the country again. "This India short is everything for me. I don't know what I would do if not playing for India. I would like to thank my friends and team-mates and the Essex (his English county side) people too."

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