Turbanator aims to improve India's record overseas

India's match winning off spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that his side can bring to an end India's poor Test run abroad in the forthcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on Tuesday in Galle.

"We haven't done well in overseas, but we have an opportunity to do so here," said Harbhajan before adding: "I have been eagerly been looking forward to this series. It'll be really good for us if we win it."

Harbhajan's confidence is buoyed by familiar conditions: "We are used to these conditions. This is my third visit to Sri Lanka. Conditions are similar to India and I feel like I am in Madras, although the humidity is higher. Even the pitches are similar."

During India's last home series against the world champions Australia Harbhajan excelled, taking a record 32 wickets ­ including a hat-trick ­ in just three games. India's success ended Australia's phenomenal 16 match winning streak.

"That was a great series, for me and the team," he remarks. "I was out of the side for 18 months and that was my come back. I am thankful to Sourav (Ganguly) and John (Wright) for pushing for my case. They showed a lot of faith in me."

Things have not always gone well for Harbhajan and controversy has already dogged the young bowler's career. Director Hanumant Singh expelled him from the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for disciplinary reasons and he almost lost his job with Indian Airlines. He was also accused of having a suspect action.

He now wants to put all that behind him. "I was out of the team and people started saying that I am a bad guy and all, but I know what happened and I just want to forget that incident. It was like a bad dream."

Harbhajan came into the side against Australia only because of the shoulder injury to leg-spinner Anil Kumble and the insistence of skipper Ganguly. He ended up being India's highest wicket taker in a three match series.

However, the 21-year-old off spinner claims limited responsibility. "It's with the grace of God that I achieved that feat. I am a firm believer in God and hopefully with the help of God there'll be more 30 wicket hauls to come."

With everything going for him in the series against the Aussies, he still had one disappointment. "My father was not with me to see me leading India to victory and taking a hat-trick. I missed him a lot. His only dream was to see me playing for India and he gave me a lot of support, but when I performed well for my country he wasn't there."

The Aussies however are susceptible against off spin bowling and Harbhajan is aware that can't expect for the same dream series every time. Especially against a team like Sri Lanka who handle spin well.

He himself admits that it will be tougher, but remains confident. "The Sri Lankan players play spin well, but if I can get Sachin (Tendulkar) out in the nets and if I can get Steve Waugh out in the middle, there shouldn't be any problems with the other batsmen. The main thing is to bowl a good line and length. If you do that, anyone can get out."

The sardar from Jullundur says that Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble should be given a lot of credit for where he is today: "I always listen to Anil (Kumble). He has given me a lot of support and many tips in my career. Every time I have played with him I have learnt something."

The youngster has ambitions of being an allrounder. "In the home season I did well for Punjab with the bat, scoring about 220 runs in five matches. That, plus the 46 runs I scored against Australia, has given me more confidence as a batsmen."

Though keen to play down the much-awaited contest between him and Muralitharan, and despite much talk about green wickets, we can expect both spinners to play influential roles in the series. In fact, judging by his form in the Coca-Cola Cup, the Sri Lankan batsmen are going to find him a real handful.