Competition to secure a berth into Team India has hotted up like never before but middle-order batsman Hemang Badani is not losing hope; he says he is doing the things that are needed to get into the squad.
"I believe that I have it in me. Still to bowl, get those runs and still play for the country for a long time. I am not old as yet; so, why not (nurse an ambition to represent India again)," says the 28-year-old from Chennai.
A polished batsman and an agile fielder, Badani made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 2001 and ODI debut against Bangladesh in Asia Cup a year earlier.
He has been playing first class cricket since 1996-97 and represented India in four Tests and 40 ODIs.
Inconsistency and patchy form saw him make way for others at times. But Badani's career was plagued with injuries as well.
Badani said because of injuries, he was sidelined for seven of the last 12 months but now he was normal and looking to get into the one-day squad.
"It's the question of wanting to do something. The question is looking into go ahead; not looking at the stage you are," said Badani, when asked about the motivation factor.
He realises he can't get into the one-day side merely as a batsman. "The way things are going today, you can't enter (the one-day team) just as a batsman," Badani said, adding that one should be able to bowl 5-6 overs in a one-day match.
"Things are going to get that much difficult with new ICC rules governing limited overs matches," he said.
"Cricket has become multi-dimensional. You can't just be a batsman and getaway," said Badani, also a slow orthodox bowler. "You have to keep adding to your cricket repertoire".
Photograph: Getty Images
