Harsh Dubey on surprise India A call-up: 'Didn't believe it at first'

The Hindu

17-05-2025

Success in Indian domestic cricket can cut both ways. Some players toil year after year, waiting endlessly for a national call-up. Others force their way in with performances too good to ignore.
Vidarbha spinner Harsh Dubey falls into the second bracket. His record-breaking 69 wickets in the 2024–25 season powered Vidarbha to a Ranji Trophy title and earned him a place in the India A squad for the upcoming England tour.
'Honestly, I wasn't expecting the call-up. I didn't believe it at first. It took some time to sink in,' Dubey said in a telephonic conversation with Sportstar.
'It is a great feeling to be able to represent your country. Having last played for the Under-19 side in 2019, I will now get another opportunity, and I'm looking forward to it,' he added.
The India A tour includes matches against the England Lions in Canterbury and Northampton, and a fixture against the senior India side in Beckenham — a fresh test for Dubey's red-ball craft.
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'I will try to speak to as many people as possible on how to prepare, what I can expect, and how the wickets will play,' said the left-arm spinner, who is preparing for his first senior tour overseas.
Dubey is used to bowling with the SG Test ball at home, which is known for its pronounced seam and firmness. In England, he'll likely be working with the Dukes ball — used primarily in England, Ireland and the West Indies. While this will be his first time playing with it, the transition may not be too steep.
'I have never played with the Duke ball before, but I have practised with the Kookaburra. I will try to get an idea from people who have gone before reaching there and acclimatising,' he added.
For Indian spinners, the Dukes ball can be an asset. Its pronounced seam and ability to stay hard throughout the innings — especially on dry pitches — mirrors the characteristics of the SG red cherry, offering good grip and consistent bounce.
After the domestic season, Dubey turned out for Vijay CC in the Chennai First Division league. He claimed four wickets in the Raja of Palayampatti Shield final, helping the team finish runner-up.
A brief break at home was cut short when Sunrisers Hyderabad brought him in as an injury replacement for Karnataka batter R. Smaran in IPL 2025.
He didn't get a game, with the league suspended just days after his inclusion, but stayed focused.
'I had just started training when the call came. My focus was to improve my fitness and regain my strength after the load on my body last season,' Harsh explained.
'I have realised that the more I am in the present, the better I get to prepare. I was concentrating on my batting, bowling and fitness so that I can be ready whenever an opportunity arises,' he added.
Now, with Sunrisers out of Playoff contention and the season winding down, Dubey is hoping to pick the brain of head coach Daniel Vettori before heading to England.
'So far, I haven't had many opportunities to interact with him since I participated in only one practice session. I'll try speaking to him to absorb as much as I can from him,' the spinner said.