Flight delays are often frustrating. For Harsh Dubey, however, a one-hour delay at Chennai airport on May 19 turned into a moment that changed his life.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) left-arm spin-bowling allrounder was preparing to board a flight to Hyderabad with his team-mates when his phone rang. What followed would eventually lead him to the Indian dressing room. Dubey had earned a maiden call-up to the senior national side for the one-off Test against Afghanistan and the following ODI series.
When the SRH players were relaxing in the airport lounge, Dubey received a call from an unknown number.
"How does it feel to be selected for the Indian team?" the caller asked.
Dubey immediately assumed the question was about India A, who were set to travel to Sri Lanka for a tri-series.
"I told them it felt great and that it would take me one step closer to my biggest dream," Dubey recalled.
Moments later, a message from a senior journalist changed everything. Only then did he realise the call was about the senior Indian team.
"I don't believe anything until I see it on the official BCCI website," Dubey said. "But when my phone started exploding with calls and messages, I searched for the live press conference online. The moment I heard my name, I went completely blank. For the first couple of minutes, I couldn't process what was happening."
Even those around him were unaware of the news.
"Ishan bhai [Ishan Kishan] was sitting right next to me and he had no idea," Dubey said. "We were travelling together. Thankfully the flight was delayed by an hour, otherwise I would have found out only after landing."
The scenes at home were equally emotional.
"My father initially thought it was an India A call-up as well," Dubey said. "Once he confirmed the news, he video called me. He couldn't speak and just kept crying. My mother kept asking if my name had definitely been announced."
Dubey's rise has been anything but straightforward.
He was one of the stars of Vidarbha's triumphant 2024-25 Ranji Trophy campaign, finishing with a record 69 wickets while also contributing 469 runs. Only a few years earlier, he had been dropped from the state side altogether. That setback led him to working with one of Indian cricket's greatest offspinners.
After being left out of the Ranji squad, Dubey featured in an Under-23 tournament and claimed seven wickets in the semi-final. During an IPL season, Rajasthan Royals net bowler Rajneesh Gurbani happened to mention Dubey's name to R Ashwin during a game of chess.
Intrigued, Ashwin searched for videos of Dubey's bowling and invited him to play league cricket in Chennai. Dubey joined Mylapore Recreation Club (MRCA), where he spent valuable time under Ashwin's guidance.
It was there that he refined his craft, learning how to use the crease more effectively and vary his pace with greater control. The improvements soon became evident in his performances.
The progress continued. In 2025, Dubey captained Vidarbha to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title, further strengthening his case for higher honours.
Those who have closely followed domestic cricket often draw comparisons between Dubey and Ravindra Jadeja.
"When I was growing up, the player I watched the most was Ravindra Jadeja," Dubey said. "I've followed his bowling closely since 2013-14. In many ways, I grew up watching him."
Dubey has also had opportunities to learn directly from Jadeja.
"We met during the IPL and earlier in England when I was with the India A side," he said. "I spent almost half an hour speaking with him. He spoke about mindset and areas where I could improve."
Naturally, questions about being viewed as a possible successor to Jadeja have followed him.
"Replacing a player like him is never going to be easy," Dubey said. "If people are making those comparisons, it means I've done something right. But my focus is simple. Wherever I get an opportunity, I want to help my team win and contribute in the best possible way."
When chief selector Ajit Agarkar described him as an "all-format next generation spin bowling allrounder", Dubey chose not to dwell too much on the praise.
"It's great to know that they have faith in me," he said. "But my focus is on repaying that trust through performances. I don't think much about what people say or expect from me. I just want to control the things that are in my hands and do them as well as possible."
The prospect of joining the Indian dressing room and working under new head coach Gautam Gambhir is another source of excitement.
"Just being in the same dressing room as Gautam Gambhir is special," Dubey said. "Everyone remembers his innings in the 2011 World Cup final. You naturally have immense respect for players like him. Getting the chance to work with him is something I'm really looking forward to."
The Afghanistan ODI series will also give Dubey the opportunity to share a dressing room with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Dubey smiled while recalling that Kohli was the second wicket of his IPL career.
"My first IPL wicket was Mitchell Marsh and the second was Virat bhai," he said. "Now the thought of playing alongside him and spending time with him is unbelievable."
"I grew up watching him bat. I've taken inspiration from him since childhood. To be in the same team as someone like him feels like a dream come true. Even now, it hasn't fully sunk in."
From the grounds of Nagpur to the Indian dressing room, Dubey's journey has been built on perseverance, sacrifice and unwavering belief. The son of a former Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) employee who gave up his job to support his son's ambitions, Dubey now stands on the brink of his international debut.
India's squad assembled in Chandigarh on June 1, and with the one off Test against Afghanistan around the corner, Dubey's long-awaited journey at the highest level is finally set to begin.