I was really thrilled: Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh lived a dream with a maiden Test hundred in a crunch situation for India on the final day of the first Test, here, on Monday.

A delighted Harbhajan said later, “Now I know how it feels to get a century. I was really thrilled and excited that my hundred played a part in India saving the Test.”

Harbhajan called Laxman the saviour of the team. “He was the reason I got my hundred. He kept saying that I was batting really well and I just had to concentrate over by over. He told me not to play the on-the-rise shots. That helped.”

Harbhajan added, “Laxman batted superbly. He was a little unlucky with his decision, otherwise he would have got his hundred as well. He deserves more credit than me.”

The off-spinner said he never believed he would win a Man of the Match award in a Test for his batting. “Maybe, I stood a better chance in one-day cricket where I could go up the order and slog a few runs. But not in a Test.”

He revealed there was no message sent to him from the dressing room.

“Gary (Kirsten) told me in the morning that I just had to bat with Laxman. He said, ‘You know you can play the big shots but at the same time you have to be just a little careful in your stroke-selection.' “

Harbhajan was all praise for Kiwi paceman Chris Martin. “Hats off to Martin. He bowled his heart out. For me, he was the Man of the Match.

"To take five wickets on this pitch was something really special. New Zealand fought well. I always felt it was a good side. You cannot judge them on the basis of one tournament.”

Harbhajan said there was little purpose in India declaring at any point. “The wicket was flat. Daniel (Vettori) bowled long spells to take two wickets. And you saw the replays to see what sort of decisions they were.”

Harbhajan does not mind UDRS

Dwelling on UDRS he said, “As a bowler I don’t mind if that system comes. We had it in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. I quite liked it as I got a couple of wickets. I am no one to decide on this. Big people decide. My job is just to go out to bowl, bat and field . That's the best I can do.”

Harbhajan dedicated the century to his father, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. “These are the people who came and told me that `you have the capability to get Test hundred.'“

Big improvement, says Vettori

Despite failing to close out a win, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was generally pleased with his side's performance. “After what happened in Bangladesh, it was nice to see ourselves getting into a position from where we could put pressure on India. We made a big improvement in a short time.”

He said the side missed injured paceman Hamish Bennett and added, “Chris Martin bowled very well. But we lacked penetration today. We needed a couple of guys to bowl quick, sharp spells.”

Vettori said a team's lower order could not be taken for granted any more. “You saw the way Harbhajan batted. His strokes put us under pressure. Every wicket is hard these days. Of course, Laxman was superb.”

The New Zealand captain was impressed with the batting displays of Jesse Ryder and debutant Kane Williamson. Both made hundreds in the Test.