Harsh Dubey India Call-Up: Vidarbha Spinner Says Discovery Felt Like a Dream

Uncapped Indian all-rounder Harsh Dubey has revealed that he initially struggled to believe he had been selected for India’s Test and ODI squads, describing the moment he learned of the call-up as surreal and dreamlike. The young spin-bowling all-rounder, who recently represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, is now on the verge of making his international debut in the upcoming home series against Afghanistan, beginning with a one-off Test match.

Dubey’s rise to the national team comes after a series of impressive performances in domestic cricket. Representing Vidarbha, he has established himself as one of the country's most promising spin all-rounders, claiming 133 wickets in 27 first-class matches at an average of 23.26. He has also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring more than 1,000 runs in red-ball cricket, underlining his value as a genuine all-round option.

Speaking ahead of the Afghanistan series, Dubey recalled the unusual circumstances in which he discovered the news of his selection. He said he was waiting at an airport when he received a call from a cricket social media manager asking about his inclusion in India's ODI squad. Due to background noise and connectivity issues, Dubey initially assumed the caller was referring to his earlier selection for the India A squad scheduled to tour Sri Lanka.

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The realization came only after he began receiving messages congratulating him on his inclusion in both the Test and ODI squads. Dubey admitted he was confused and immediately checked online to verify the reports. He said it took several minutes for the significance of the news to sink in and revealed that he was so overwhelmed that he initially focused only on seeing his own name in the squad announcement rather than the complete team list.

The 23-year-old credited his recent progress to staying focused on immediate goals rather than looking too far ahead. Before receiving the national call-up, he had been concentrating on performing well in the IPL and preparing for India A commitments. He said he never expected to be considered for both formats at the senior international level so quickly and described the opportunity as a moment beyond anything he had imagined.

Despite the excitement surrounding his selection, Dubey has emphasized a measured approach to his career. He said he prefers to focus on one match at a time rather than thinking about long-term ambitions such as World Cups or major championships. As he prepares for a potential debut against Afghanistan, the young all-rounder remains determined to make the most of the opportunity and contribute to the team whenever called upon.

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