HE ALWAYS dreamt of wearing India colours since his childhood. And when the day came, Harsh Dubey felt numb. Sitting on his seat in the flight which was taking his Sunrisers Hyderabad side back home for their last league match of the Indian Premier League, Dubey felt a certain hollowness. He could not react. ‘Thank you’... was his only reply to congratulatory messages from his team-mates and friends. The Nagpur left-handed all-rounder Dubey has got a maiden call-up for the one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan beginning June 6. Dubey has been a regular in India ‘A’ side and has performed to the expectations of selectors in the opportunities he got. He gained attention after setting a Ranji Trophy record with 69 wickets in a single season, surpassing the previous mark of 68. In IPL, too, he was a regular in SRH playing XI. Picked as a replacement for R Smaran, Dubey immediately made an impact. In three games he played, the left-arm orthodox picked the prized scalps of Virat Kohli and Andre Russell last season. But he never thought of getting selected in both, Test and ODI, squads. “Unbelievable. Never thought of getting the maiden call-up. It still feels like a dream.

 

Hope it is not. Hope this dream never ends,” Dubey replied to ‘The Hitavada’s call. “We are about to fly. Will call you in the night and will have a long chat then, sir,” he humbly said, adding, “There are several missed calls in my call log, will call you later.” But when insisted for a couple of minutes, the 23-year-old obliged. “This selection is because of the sacrifice made by my parents, father Surendra and mother Jyoti. Credit of this selection goes to them,” replied Dubey. The left-handed bowler did not forget to thank the pains taken by his childhood coach Dilip Das. “It is also because of my childhood coach Das sir, all members of Vidarbha Cricket Association for showing faith in me and giving me the opportunity to represent Vidarbha,” he added. Dubey started his cricketing career with Ruby Club and was all praise for his former club.

 

“At Ruby Club I learnt the nuances of the game. The club gave me a strong foundation. I am thankful to each and every member of the club. “Also at Nagpur Cricket Academy (NCA), Madhav Bakre sir, who always supported me and allowed me to use the facilities. Without them I wouldn’t have achieved my dream,” Dubey told this scribe. The selection news is yet to sink in and Dubey is yet to think about his preparation for the one-off Test starting in Mullanpur. “It is yet to sink in. I am still dreaming, still numb. Let this sink in first and then only will I be able to think about the Test,” Dubey signed off as his Hyderabad-bound flight took off from Chennai.