The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
After a series of nightmares, an American dream comes true
From setbacks on and off the field and selectorial rejection to playing for USA against India in T20 World Cup
ONE BAD day in 2021, Harmeet Singh’s phone rang. The former India U-19 cricketer had been living for a year in the USA, playing cricket, and doing odd jobs apart from coaching, trying to forget his dark days with cricket in India. Life was beginning to look up when that phone buzzed.
His mother had been admitted in hospital due to Covid-19, and was suffering from severe breathing issues. He was asked if he could somehow procure one Remdesivir injection. He managed, but it didn’t prove enough.
“It was the toughest moment in my life, I couldn’t go, I saw her entire final rites on video call. I was just numb; everything flashbacked. She used to take me to the ground daily, we lived this journey together. I feel sad that she couldn’t see this day,” Harmeet chokes up.
That day is here now, finally. Harmeet, who was once touted as a promising international talent by no less than the Australian legend Ian Chappell, will be playing international cricket, but with a difference. He will be playing against India for his new adopted country USA in the T20 World Cup. It has been some journey for the 31-year old leftarm spinner.
It was another phone call that had changed his life. Tired of being a “victim of favouritism” and “selection politics”, he says he took the decision to move to the US after a call came, offering him a chance to play cricket in the states. To understand the light at the end of the tunnel, one has to stumble through darkness. Things were shining brightly after his stint with India U-19 in two world cups, especially with Chappell’s comments. But there was one thing else that the former Australian captain had said that would resonate with him later on in his life. “A cricketer like Harmeet will stagnate if he's left for too long at a lower level, because that leads to sloppy habits,” Chappell had writteninhis Cricinfo column. “Harmeet is ready to be considered for national selection.”
A series of controversies would gatecrash his dream. His name was dragged into the infamous 2013 spot fixing scandal where he represented Rajasthan Royals. Then a bizarre picture hit the tv screens of him driving his car right into a crowded Andheri station in a Mumbai suburb. A photo of him surrounded by cops became viral. The talented boy had now become the unwanted youth of Indian cricket. Teammates and friends began to distance themselves. More than the car episode, it was the fixing scandal that did it.
“People never wanted to hear my side of the story, the media wrote what they liked. In 2013, my name was nowhere in the IPL spot fixing scandal but someone said he too is involved and people wrote without verifying it. The investigating officer himself said ‘beta,
tune kuch nahi kiya hai (Son, you didn’t do anything), I shall speak to the BCCI. If they do anything, please call me’. But I couldn’t change people’s perception,” says Harmeet, who represented India in two under 19 World Cups in 2010 and 2012.
“There is no doubt Harmeet is innocent,” SN Srivastava, commissioner (special cell), Delhi Police, had told a newspaper DNA, then. “He is a witness, not an approver. We are ready to clarify with anybody about his innocence. The bookies had approached him once, but he never accepted their offer. It can happen to anybody.”
It’s hard not to talk about his past, both good and bad. Once at Bombay Gymkhana club, watching him play was a India Test cricketer , the late Dilip Sardesai who would suddenly shout out loud, “yeh sardar India
khelega ek din.” (He will play for India, one day). But the lights soon go out in his mind.
“I do remember everyone’s praise but no one told me how I should handle politics in cricket. I made my debut in 2009 and a time came where I wasn’t getting any opportunity. I had no answers on what to do,” he recalls.
From 2009 to 2017, Harmeet played only nine first-class games for Mumbai. He was depressed and frustrated. Even after the 2012 u-19 world cup, a well known administrator from another state had warned that Mumbai would never play him again. He was assured by the MCA office-bearer that he will get to play the entire season.
“I hear the greats talking that I should play Test cricket for India, I played Irani Trophy and I see Mumbai not keeping me in their Ranji Trophy squad, I was benched throughout the year,” he explains.
He moved to Vidarbha before returning to Mumbai again after the 2013 scandal season. He served a cooling period of one season and was available for selection. Mumbai didn’t play him again. During mid-season he moved to Jammu and Kashmir and later moved to Mumbai again in 2016 and then played for Mumbai in 2017. But the opportunities were too few and far.
His father Jasbir saw his son breaking down slowly at home. “He was not talking too much, he used to tell his mother,’ I don’t know why they are doing this to me. I’m performing but still they are not picking me’. I would see him depressed and it wasn’t a good sight. Mein bola ‘chadd yaar, doosre state try karte hai (forget it, let’s try another state)’. He moved on and now destiny has decided he will play for the USA.”
It’s night in Houston and he is driving down a freeway with car phone speakers on. It has been a great week as his USA defeated Bangladesh in a series and Harmeet played his part, slamming unbeaten matchwinning 13-ball 33.
It was in early 2020 that Harmeet got a call from the USA asking him his willingness to be a part of Major Cricket League to be held down the line in future. The USA board was looking for professional cricketers who can play in Major League cricket. He stayed for four months in Atlanta before moving to Seattle. He played minor cricket and did part time coaching. In 2021, he was handed a three-year contract by USA and Harmeet retired from all forms of the game in India. As per the rule, if he stays 30 consecutive months in the USA, he is qualified to play for the national team of the USA. By March 2023, he became eligible to play for the USA team.
His father recalls how his son had to do oddjobsinitially. “Itwastoughforhimthen but he never complained to us. They put him in Airbnb and on a few occasions he worked at a petrol pump and malls, as he had ample time. He would also coach the kids from an Indian family there, who liked him very much.”
For Harmeet more than the struggle, it was his cricket which was levelling up that mattered the most. His performance in the minor league for Kingsmen in 2022 club was noted and he was picked for the national side.
“I was going up the cricketing ladder. Here in the US, people began to appreciate the place I’m coming from. I don’t feel any politics. I think in Mumbai, I saw that if they wanted to give opportunity then they were given to a few, peth bharke (tons of chances). And if they don’t want to, they will drop you even if you take five or ten wickets,” he narrates. Life has changed otherwise too in the US. He says he has learnt to cook, learnt to be on his own in all aspects.
He is not the lone Indian in the USA World Cup squad. His Mumbai team mate Saurabh Netravalkar and Delhi’s Milind Kumar have made it. But they have willingly made a rule in the dressing room. Since there are many subcontinental players, no onewilltalkintheirmothertongue. “Ifanyone talks in Hindi or Punjabi they will be fined 20 dollars. The dressing room environment is nice and talent is there, hope we will have a good World Cup,” Harmeet says.
The other day when he scored that gameturning 33, a few messaged him asking if he was the Harmeet who once played for India U-19. “I just laugh, bola haan bhai mein he
hoon. Cricket is not that popular but slowly it’s changing, slow progress,” he says.
For most of the Indian players playing in the USA, all eyes are on the June 12 game as they meet India in a World Cup league game. Harmeet will play against Rohit Sharma, who hails from the same school— Swami Vivekanand International, Borivali.
Even before the game he has been getting requests for tickets, he doesn't know how much he can cater.
For Harmeet’s father, it will be a proud moment to see his son play in the World Cup. “We wanted to see him in India colours but destiny has decided something else, at least he is playing that is important. Cricket has been his life and I am happy to see my son fighting it out,” he adds.
A top player in the US can now have the opportunity to earn around two lakh dollars annually, a reason which has attracted many cricketers. Harmeet has now rented a small bungalow in Houston and lives with his wife and two kids: a daughter and a son. “Life is good".
People never wanted to hear my side of the story, the media wrote what they liked. In 2013, my name was nowhere in the IPL spot fixing scandal but someone said he too is involved and people wrote without verifying it.”
It was the toughest moment in my life, I couldn’t go, I saw her (mother’s) entire final rites on video call. I was just numb; everything flashbacked. She used to take me to the ground daily, we lived this journey together.”