Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 09:45 IST
Harpreet Singh Bhatia, SMAT's all-time leading scorer with 2968 runs, has moved to the UAE and kickstarted his international career.
If you were to search for the ‘highest scorer in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history’, the name that pops up might surprise you. It’s not a big-ticket name – a quiet hard worker who endured a rollercoaster journey before making a life-changing decision.
Harpreet Singh Bhatia, the former Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh captain, tops the charts with 2968 runs in 100 matches at an average of 37.56 and a strike rate of 126.56.
2017 proved to be a turning point in his career.
In top form and expected to secure a lucrative IPL deal, Bhatia’s prospects were hit by a case of mistaken identity that linked him to an arrest at Andheri station. Despite a clarification, franchises stayed away.
He eventually joined RCB as a replacement player but didn’t get a game, missing a golden opportunity.
Then in 2023, he was picked up by the Punjab Kings, with the following season marking his last IPL appearance. A move from Chhattisgarh to Madhya Pradesh also didn’t yield the desired results.
After years of persistence in Indian cricket, Bhatia chose a new path, moving to the UAE.
He was among five cricketers granted UAE citizenship through naturalisation, alongside Khuzaima Tanveer, Ajay Kumar, Akshdeep Nath and Adeeb Usmani. He is also among the few players with Indian domestic experience to make an international debut for the UAE.
News18-Cricketnext reached out to Bhatia and in a conversation facilitated by UAE Cricket, the batter spoke on a variety of topics.
Excerpts:
After being a stalwart in the Indian domestic circuit for over a decade, what was the primary factor that led you to shift your focus to representing the UAE internationally?
Look, it has always been a dream to represent an international team. I have played for India U-19, played first-class cricket for more than a decade, and since then, it has always been a goal for me to play at the highest level. My destiny had some different plans, and here I am. UAE cricket is growing year by year, and the atmosphere is just amazing to be in. There can’t be a better time than this to represent the UAE, which is creating its strong presence in world cricket. So obviously it’s an honour and a privilege to represent the UAE.
How does the intensity and professional setup of the UAE national team compares to your experience playing in the IPL and leading major Indian domestic sides?
Well, every league, every format has different pressure and challenges. It’s a different ball game altogether when you are representing a national team. The pride and the responsibility which you feel are something which you cannot compare with anything else. The same goes with IPL, the competition is so intense that one has to keep adapting and improving their game. There is zero margin for error. The first-class cricket base is also very solid in India. You get to play amongst the best talents in the Ranji Trophy, which ultimately raises the standard of cricket and ups your game.
You’ve faced unique hurdles in your career, including the 2017 ‘mistaken identity’ auction incident. How did you maintain the mental strength to keep performing at such a high level after that?
In the last 16 years, a lot of things have changed. In fact, the game changes every few years, and as an athlete and an elite cricketer, you need to continuously keep evolving and adapting. If you don’t do those things become really difficult in the long run. I have been a successful Ranji Trophy and Mushtaq Ali player; everyone knows that, but modern-day cricket, especially playing IPL or an international team, requires quick changes to quickly adapt. I worked on my game in the last few years. I worked on specific areas in the last few years, including working on my shorter format technique, my strike rate and my hitting abilities.
As a former captain of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, do you see yourself primarily as a batting mainstay for the UAE, or are you also embracing a mentorship role for the younger players in the squad?
Honestly, it will be a mix of both. Obviously, being a senior player, I have to lead from the front with my batting. I have to chip in whenever the team requires me in different circumstances. At the same time, I feel it’s a moral responsibility for any senior player to give the right guidance and help the young talent. So, I’ll be embracing the role of mentorship as well, providing batting depth for the UAE team.
You played the 2010 U-19 World Cup and later became the all-time leading scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. How have you adapted your batting style to stay successful as T20 cricket has evolved?
Well, constantly evolving is a part of the game. As I told you, I have worked on my shorter format technique and on my strike rate in the last few seasons. Each format requires a different mindset and technical adjustments. I have been fortunate enough to share dressing room with some great players and coaches in IPL as well as during my India Under-19 days. The vast experience over the last 15 years has helped me a lot. Also, with time, you start understanding the nonsense of the game, and you automatically start making the required changes.
Now that you are officially a UAE international, what are the specific milestones you want to achieve with this team over the next few years?
Obviously, I want the UAE to progress at the international circuit. It already has a great atmosphere and environment. With more and more tournaments and matches, I am sure each one of us will gain quality experience to play at the highest level. My aim is definitely to make the UAE qualify and play in the ICC World Cup 2027 and give big teams a run for their money.
The more we play, the more experience and lessons we will learn in this journey. The UAE Cricket Board and our team coaching staff and players are very supportive and very eager to take UAE cricket forward. Once again, I want to thanks to ECB for giving me this opportunity.
