Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey earns maiden call-up to Indian cricket squads
Dubey describes opportunity to play alongside Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as a 'dream come true'
Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey has been selected for India’s senior One Day International and Test squads for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan. The 23-year-old, who also plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, received his maiden call-up to the national team, marking a significant step in his domestic and franchise career.
Dubey expressed elation at the prospect of sharing a dressing room with established senior figures Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He described the opportunity to play alongside the two legends before their anticipated retirement as a 'dream come true' moment, noting that they have been his idols since he began understanding the sport.
The announcement came during a period of transit for the young cricketer. Dubey revealed he learned of his selection via a phone call from a sports social media manager while waiting for a delayed flight at Chennai airport with his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammates. The flight was delayed by approximately an hour, providing the context for the unexpected news.
Due to noise and network issues in the airport lounge, Dubey initially misunderstood the call. He believed the inquiry referred to a call-up for the Sri Lanka A ODI tri-series, responding that the news felt like one step closer to his dream while affirming his focus remained on the Indian Premier League.
It was only after hanging up that Dubey received subsequent messages confirming his inclusion in both the Test and ODI squads. He stated that it took several minutes to process the information, even after checking online and speaking with coach Murali Kartik, who asked about the other spinners in the squad. Dubey admitted he initially told the coach he had only seen his own name, describing the experience as feeling like a dream.
