Lack of opportunities was the main reason behind moving to the USA: Harmeet Singh [Exclusive]

Over the last few months, a number of Indian cricketers have moved to the United States of America to give their careers a new lease of life. Smit Patel recently played for Barbados Royals in the CPL and even Unmukt Chand, the 2012 World Cup-winning U19 skipper, decided to bid adieu to Indian cricket to revive his cricket career. In August, Mumbai’s Harmeet Singh also took the same step.

Harmeet was a part of the U19 team along with Patel and Chand. In the tournament, he picked up six wickets and had the best economy among India’s regular bowlers. Three years prior to that, the left-armer made his first-class debut as a 16-year-old and a bright future seemed in store for him. However, as time passed by, the competitiveness in Mumbai cricket kept pushing him back.

In 31 first-class, 19 List A and seven T20s, Harmeet picked up 11 wickets and scored over 900 runs. Frustration crept in for Harmeet and he decided to move to the United States. In the USA, he signed a three-year contract with the Major Cricket League where he plays for the Seattle Thunderbolts. Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell drew his parallels with the great Bishen Singh Bedi.

In 2013, the 28-year-old Harmeet also played a game for the Rajasthan Royals, captained by Rahul Dravid, in the cash-rich Indian Premier League. In that match, the tweaker picked up the wicket of New Zealand’s Ross Taylor, who represented the defunct Pune Warriors.

In the meantime, Harmeet caught up with CricTracker for an exclusive interview. During the chat, he talked about his journey in Mumbai cricket also went down memory lane to the World Cup nine years ago where India U19 beat Australia in the final.

Here are some excerpts from Harmeet Singh’s interview:

1. What was the reason behind you saying goodbye to Indian cricket and going to America?

I’m not sure about other players, but for me, lack of opportunities was the main reason behind shift to America. I made my debut for Mumbai in 2009 and by 2012, I played three matches and picked up 18 wickets before the World Cup. When I returned from Australia, I had offers from other states. After I came back from the WC, I didn’t get a chance even to fail.

I sat at home for three years and in those times, any player will be past their prime. If one asks you to go back to club cricket and prove yourself, it doesn’t quite work out that way. A few of my other World Cup teammates, who didn’t have a great tournament, have gone ahead. Hanuma Vihari didn’t have a great outing and he’s playing Test cricket for India. Vihari’s state team backed him a lot.

He’s played around 100 first-class matches. Baba Aparajith, Sandeep Sharma and Akshdeep Nath had WC campaigns similar to me. I never asked for 80-90 first class games, but I wanted at least one season to show my skills. Had I failed I would have taken it on my chest.

In the handful of chances, I got, I performed. At the end of 2014, I got to play two matches for Mumbai. The team needed to win matches against Baroda And Karnataka to qualify. I took four wickets against Baroda in Motibagh followed by six wickets against Karnataka on a flat deck in Mumbai.

When I was warming the bench, I had apprehensions about my own abilities. I worked on my action to get into the team. In four games that season, I took around 16-17 wickets. We lost the semi-final to Karnataka. In the next season, my coach changed and I had to sit out again.

2. Do you believe, internal politics plays an important role in Mumbai cricket?

I don’t think it exists in Mumbai cricket as my other teammates, who played a lot with me, got adequate chances to show their skills. It was only me, who didn’t get many chances. I’m not sure if anyone had a problem with me, but other players, like Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and Siddhesh Lad, Aditya Tare got entire seasons to play.

They got chances even after failing. In my case, how could you determine whether or not I am good if you don’t even give me a chance to fail.

3. Your and Unmukt Chand’s cases are similar where both of you didn’t get backing from state boards. Did you have any conversations with the board members?

I am the first cricket player from my family and no one knew how to approach them. There was a sense of fear if asking them would create more problems. I didn’t face any problems in national level cricket as I played for Mumbai since my U14 days. In age group cricket, I was performing extraordinarily well. When I was playing for U16, they selected me for U19.

The national coaches were fond of me and always backed me to do well. They used to recommend my name everywhere. I am originally from the North while I am brought up in the West. I am aggressive in nature and the aggression shows on the ground. That must have backfired. But it’s about judging a player on performance.

Gradually, I had to adapt, but two years later, I realised that the change in attitude wasn’t helping my game by any means. When I played for Jammu and Kashmir, I didn’t enjoy my stint. The state was also going through political turmoil and I realised that the cricket culture there is different from Mumbai. I played two games mid-season, but I didn’t enjoy playing there. After I returned, in the cooling period, I played in the Kanga League and remember picking up nine wickets in one inning.

After I performed with both bat and ball, the selectors even asked for my cooling period to be removed. For the next season, I was expected to be picked, but they went for as many as 42 players. I was 26-27 years old back then and players from the U22 level were also picked. The ones, who used to take tips from me, were also in the squad.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t picked and it was very disheartening. I played club cricket for the entire season and when I asked why I wasn’t selected, the selectors said that more spinners played in my absence. That year, Mumbai didn’t have a spinner. I and Iqbal Abdullah were out of the team as well. Even Shams Mulani, who’s performing now, wasn’t in the reckoning.

So, the board’s statement hurt me a lot. Then I got a call from Tripura. My friends tried to convince me to stay. But even if I stayed that year, first I had to hope that the first-choice spinner failed. I worked hard to play a full season.

4. Did you consult any international cricketer before making a move to the USA?

In corporate cricket, I used to consult a Sir and he’s been a well-wisher for me. Even Pravin Amre was a well-wisher. He asked me to take the opportunity with both hands. My family was also suffering as since I was playing around two Ranji Trophy games every season, it was tough to survive in Mumbai.

My family was dependent on me and it was tough financially. Passion is alright, but you can’t make your family suffer because of it. Therefore, at some point in time, you have to take a decision. Moving to the USA not only supports my passion, but also gives me a sense of security.

5. Talk us through a memorable moment from the 2012 U19 World Cup

When we won, it was the biggest moment. The feeling of winning can’t beat anything. Those moments will stay with me for a lifetime. It was the month of August when we won the World Cup. I am also getting Facebook memories.

6. If you are playing for USA in a match against India, how would you process your thoughts?

I’m not thinking too far ahead. But if it happens, we would take a professional approach. Be it Virat Kohli or anyone, we will look to get the batsman out.