India-bound Harsh Dubey has a World Cup dream with Ro-Ko on his side [Exclusive Interview]

Published - 22 May 2026, 11:24 IST | Updated - 22 May 2026, 13:00 IST

Getting into even the India A squad was such a huge deal for Harsh Dubey already that when his phone rang even a week after the call-up, he thought it was for the A tour of Sri Lanka. However, the phone started beeping a lot more. Messages jammed Dubey's inbox, and like any young guy would do, he googled it. Seated in the boarding lobby at the Chennai airport, Dubey saw his Team India flight take off when the BCCI named him in both the Test and ODI squads of the home series against Afghanistan.

Now Dubey is a hard-working youngster who likes to stay away from the limelight. But it follows him anyway, as he does magical things on the field, say, for example, when he hit the record books with 69 wickets in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. In the same season, the all-rounder Dubey also made 476 runs, making it very easy for the selectors, experts, and the fans to take note of the special talent that he boasts.

The dream started when he accidentally took a wrong turn with his father as a 10-year-old, ending up at the Ruby Cricket Club in Nagpur's Civil Lines instead of a book store. That detour sparked a passion that has only grown stronger over the years. The 23-year-old probably has an idea of what it takes to be an India player. Like any youngster of his generation, the Pune-born also wants to share the dressing room alongside Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

"I was actually at the Chennai airport when I got to know. I first received a call, but due to bad network at the airport, I could not hear clearly, and I thought I was being congratulated for the India A call-up. Then after some time, I started getting more and more calls and messages. Our flight was also delayed, so that is actually when I googled my name on the phone to find that my name is actually there in both ODI and Test squads.

"To be honest, that moment – I cannot express with words. That is something else. That was a very emotional moment for me also. As you can see in the video, I was fully red. It can be seen there. At least for one minute, I was shivering, and I was sweating. And actually, it didn't hit me that much at that very moment. But later, things sank in. And yes, that’s how it happened."

"I was at the airport and did a video call with my mom and dad. My mum's first reaction was that I was like, ‘Is this true? Sach mein naam aaya hain kya tera?' And tears started rolling down my father's eyes. My mom was very emotional at that moment. And then after that, my two very close friends, Kartikey and Ashit Singh. They called me and they were also very happy about it."

"No, actually, to be honest, I was not aware of anything because the BCCI selectors had put my name in India A also. So, I thought I was not in the scheme of things for them. Then later, I got to know that I am in both Test on One-Day Internationals. So, that's a great opportunity for me to represent my country, and it's a dream for every cricketer to play for the country."

"See, I feel that, as I think, it's an opportunity for me to represent the country. And I don't want to put pressure on myself. I want to play how I played throughout my career since under-16, '19, and '14. Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, or whatever it is. I just want to do what I can do best for the team. I don't think about other things a lot."

"I think Ravichandran Ashwin has always been there for me. See, I know him from 2021. I got to know him because of the Chennai League. I was playing for his team. Then, after that, whenever I need or whenever he wants to tell me something, he conveys his message through his friends or whatever way is possible. And I always thanked him for whatever he has done for me.

"He also helped me sign my first cricket kit contract. Ashwin talked with the sponsors, and that’s how I got my first cricketing gear. Before that, till the age of 21, I did not have any sponsors, and currently, I have been under a sponsorship for the last three years, so that’s all because of Ashwin.

"Last time when I met him during the CSK game. He told me to focus on my batting more. That's what he said. He just keeps things simple and just tells what I need to improve on rather than a lot of things."

"He is very calm and composed. I think that is a very good thing in him, and I like how he creates the environment in the team. So, that's the best thing I feel. Definitely, Pat Cummins is among the best captains in world cricket right now. I am sure about it. His leadership quality is out of this world. He is too good at it. That's why he has won a WTC and a World Cup.

"Even Ishan [Kishan, vice-captain] is a bit similar to him. He also wants the team environment to be calm. Because I think it's like it's bred in our team that everything will be cool, calm, and composed. But I feel that outside the field we’re very calm and composed, but as soon as we step in, there is a fire, and we have to win every game that we play. So I feel that thing has eventually given us the positive result so far."

"I did meet him after the match. And to be honest, that time I asked him about how I could do good in the United Kingdom because right after the IPL 2025, there was an India A tour for us. I came. So, I had a conversation with him about it only in how I can prepare for the red-ball thing just after the IPL."

"I don't think about these things. I just try to see which things are in my hand. And the best thing in my hand is doing hard work whenever I get time. And try to do what I can do the best on the field."

In 2026, you captained Vidarbha to a Vijay Hazare Trophy win. How was your experience while in your debut season as the skipper?

"I was doing well in India A, and I was able to create opportunities, so Vidarbha Cricket Association, our support staff and our selection committee chairman thought that we should try a new captain this year. Then I got our coach's (Usman Ghani) call. He asked me, "Are you ready to lead Vidarbha?" and I was ready for that opportunity. I love to lead the team.

"I had not led any team in a long time. So, actually, it was; I was not expecting that. But I think that the unexpected things are the best things. I feel I was ready for it. And yeah, there were some difficulties in starting. We didn't do good things like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. But yes, we learnt from mistakes, and I thought about what we could improve in what areas. So, we worked on that, and eventually, all things turned out for us."

"I don't think that I have a dominant aspect in my game. But I would say whatever comes first, either bowling or batting, I would prefer that. I don't want to say that I'm more of a bowling all-rounder or a batting all-rounder. I would say I'm just an all-rounder, so whatever comes to me, I will try to fill in whatever I can do. I believe I am versatile in all aspects of the game."

"It's not that I don't like the white-ball format. But for me, the real cricket is Test cricket. I admire watching Test cricket. And I love watching red-ball cricket. And even I love to play red ball. So, it's not that I don't like white-ball. But for me, the Test is the best format of the game."

"I am very excited to be part of that squad where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are going to play. For me, that is a very big thing because I have grown up watching them on TV. So, that is something surreal. I am still dreaming about that.

"It will be a dream for every cricketer to play with them and win the World Cups. But still, I am saying the same thing that I don't want to think a lot about playing the World Cup. I want to play whichever game is next."

"Obviously, everyone wants to play for the country and everyone wants to win the World Cup for the country. And I definitely want to do that someday. But I'm not thinking about the 2027 World Cup or something. As of now, I'm trying to be in the present. I want to, as of now, do good for Sunrisers Hyderabad - my IPL team. And then after that, I'll think about what I can do best for my country.

"I don't want to go too far forward to think about what I'm going to do in 2027. I don't think that it's a good thing to do because I don't want to put extra, additional pressure on myself. I just want to enjoy what I have with me right now. See, I have my IPL last game of the league stage and then the playoffs. So, I want to focus on that first, and after that, I'll definitely try to do good for my country, which I have done for my state."

"That's true, definitely. I think that we have everything in the team. And I think we are going to be top contenders for the trophy."

"Shubman Gill has a very good leadership quality, and he is very smart. But I want to see closely how his things work because I like to play under captains who are very aggressive on the field. So, I feel that's where he has grown a lot in the past few years after getting that leadership thing. From GT first and then the Indian cricket team. So, yeah, I am very excited to play under Shubman."