Harbhajan Singh retires from Cricket


Photo – BCCI

By SAT News Desk

MELBOURNE, 25 December 2021: Off-spinner Harbajan Singh has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on 24 December 2021. He made the announcement on Twitter.

He said, ” All good things come to an end and today as I bid adieu to the game that has given me everything in life, I would like to thank everyone who made this 23-year-long journey beautiful and memorable. My heartfelt thank you. Grateful”

Harbhajan represented India in 103 Tests, 236 ODIs, and 28 T20Is – picking up 417, 269, and 25 wickets respectively. In an international career that lasted from 1998 to 2016, the off-spinner had some memorable moments and was a part of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup-winning squad.

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The 41-year old was also a handy contributor with the bat, scoring 3569 runs with two centuries and nine fifties.

A fierce competitor, Harbhajan ends his glittering career as the fourth-highest wicket-taker from India in Tests with 417 wickets and fifth among Indian bowlers in ODIs with 269 scalps.

Having debuted in 1998 against Australia in Bengaluru first as a 17-year-old, Harbhajan represented the country for close to two decades. He features in the elite 100-Test club and is only the second Indian spinner after Mr. Anil Kumble to have played over 100 Tests for India.

He holds the honor of being the first Indian to take a Test hat-trick when he dismissed Mr. Ricky Ponting, Mr. Adam Gilchrist, and Mr. Shane Warne in successive balls in the famous 2001 Kolkata Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His astonishing match tally of 13/196 helped the team to a stunning victory as India became only the third team to win a Test after being forced to follow on.

HARBHAN SINGH ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FROM CRICKET

‘The Turbanator’ also has an equally impressive record in the limited-overs format. He played a key role in helping India win the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and was later instrumental in India becoming the first team to win a World Cup at home in 2011.

Mr. Sourav Ganguly, President, BCCI said: “I congratulate Harbhajan Singh on a remarkable career. He has faced several challenges in his life, but Bhajji is not the one to give up. He has overcome many hurdles and put many setbacks behind him to rise every time. What inspired me the most about him was his hunger to perform. His strength was his guts and courage. He was always very passionate, and his immense self-belief meant he never shied away from a fight. He also kept the dressing room atmosphere light and that is something really important.

“His first full Test series against Australia in 2001 is the greatest that I have seen where one bowler single-handedly won the series. He was a captain’s delight. As a bowler, he hated putting fielders in the deep. Bhajji has been an absolute match-winner. He should be proud of what he has achieved. I want to tell him that the new innings in his life will be as exciting.”

– Text material for this story is extracted from the BCCI, ICC, and other websites.

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Neeraj Nanda

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