'I have to prove myself again'

Harbhajan Singh is superstitious. He believes that if India starts the season well, everything else will fall into place.

"The new season will be tough. It is important to have a good start. The camp was a good way to get going. I hope we will fight New Zealand and beat them," the ace off-spinner, eager to head the bowlers' rankings at the end of the series against the Kiwis, told Faisal Shariff.

Having fully recovered from a finger injury, Harbhajan Singh is raring to get back into the thick of action and play a key role in what will be one of India's toughest seasons. Excerpts:

What goals have you set yourself ahead of the New Zealand series?

New Zealand is a good team and is playing well. They played Muthiah Muralitharan well in Sri Lanka. Our team's goal is to win this series.

This season starter is important. Australia is a very challenging side in the triangular that follows. Australia plays well anywhere in the world. Performing well here [in India] will help us psychologically on the Australia tour. They [Australia] will be under pressure seeing us playing well and will not take us lightly.

My own goal is that I want to be the most successful bowler of this series.

You enjoy quite a reputation against the Aussies.

Reputation does not matter. The 32 wickets I got against the Aussies are gone and done with. To do something that big again I have to work very, very hard. If they fear me it is good for the team. But I am not going to sit on that; I have to prove myself again.

Like most world-class spinners, have you developed any new delivery for this season?

Nothing right now, since I am trying to get my line and length right. Since I am playing after many days I'm concentrating on getting my line right. It is the most important thing anywhere you play. Variety is always there to deceive the batsmen.

Who is the main Kiwi batsman you will target?

[Stephen] Fleming is a big player. Over the last couple of seasons he has been in terrific form. He is easily the main player. [Craig] McMillan and [Mark] Richardson are also solid batsmen.

It is not going to be easy, but we will win if we play well.

What do you think of Daniel Vettori?

Vettori is a very good bowler. He is the best left-arm spinner in the world; he has great control.

You were injured and yet keen on a comeback...

After the World Cup and the TVS Cup in Bangladesh I hadn't played much. After the finger injury I was scared whether my finger will get better. I wanted to check how my hand would react in a big game. There was no better chance than to play in the Challenger Trophy in Bangalore. I did not want to let the team down mid-way through the Test after being picked and then say I can't bowl; that will be bad. I wanted to check my fitness and make sure to what extent my injury had healed.

How serious was the injury?

It was a big injury. My bowling is all about the hand. If my right hand is not right, how will I bowl? It is better now and I hope it won't worry me later.

Why did you refuse surgery in Australia?

The way God has made the body should not be changed as much as possible. The surgeons can make it better, but they can also make it worse. I was scared. If this injury was in any other place I would have had it. I would have let them perform two surgeries.

But this hand is all I have. My bowling, my career, I don't want to take a chance unless it is urgent. It is the last option. When my hand does not respond to anything else, I will take surgery. If I can improve my hand with physiotherapy I will be very happy.

How disappointing was it to miss the chance to play English county cricket for Lancashire?

It happens. It was a very good contract and a big county. But you don't get everything you want. To be fit to play for the country is very important. I can play county any time. When you can save yourself for your country, nothing is better than that. Akram is playing county at 35; so can I.

Why did you prefer to travel to Australia instead of the US to treat your injury?

The Australian doctors had treated Shane Warne and Brett Lee. They know what cricket is all about. They know more about the game than doctors in the US. They know which finger is required to spin the ball, what a leg-spinner bowls, and what an offie bowls. The US doctors might be better, but I felt that spin and cricket knowledge is less there. The main reason was cricket is not their [the Americans'] sport. I was convinced Warne's doctors are better.