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Harbhajan Singh

Overview

Harbhajan Singh Plaha, popularly known as Harbhajan Singh and nicknamed "The Turbanator" and "Bhajji", is a former Indian international cricketer and politician. A right-arm off-spin bowler, he represented India in Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket between 1998 and 2016, and is regarded as one of the leading off-spinners of his generation. He was a key member of the Indian sides that won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Key facts

Full name Harbhajan Singh Plaha
Born 3 July 1980, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Batting Right-handed
Bowling Right-arm off-break
Test debut 1998, vs Australia
ODI debut 1998, vs New Zealand
Domestic team Punjab
IPL teams Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders
Political party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Position Member of the Rajya Sabha (from 2022)
Spouse Geeta Basra (m. 2015)

Background

Harbhajan Singh was born on 3 July 1980 in Jalandhar, Punjab, into a Sikh family. He initially trained as a batsman under coach Charanjit Singh Bhullar before switching to off-spin under Davinder Arora. The early death of his father placed family responsibilities on him, and cricket became both a vocation and a livelihood. He came through Punjab's age-group cricket and made his first-class debut for Punjab in the 1997–98 Ranji Trophy season.

International career

Early years (1998–2000)

Harbhajan made his Test debut against Australia at Bangalore in March 1998 and his ODI debut against New Zealand the following month. The early phase of his career was uneven, with concerns over his bowling action and intermittent selection.

Rise to prominence: 2001 series vs Australia

His breakthrough came during the home Test series against Australia in early 2001, when captain Sourav Ganguly backed him as the leading spinner in the absence of Anil Kumble. In that series, Harbhajan took 32 wickets in three Tests, including India's first ever Test hat-trick (at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in the second Test). His performance was central to India's 2–1 series win, considered one of the country's most celebrated Test triumphs.

Established spinner (2001–2011)

Through the 2000s, Harbhajan formed a long-running spin partnership with Anil Kumble. He played a significant role in India's run to the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. He was part of the Indian squad that won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 in South Africa, and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup at home, captained by M. S. Dhoni.

During the 2007–08 Australian tour, he was at the centre of the "Monkeygate" controversy involving Andrew Symonds, which led to a disciplinary hearing and an eventual reduced sanction. He also briefly led the Indian team in limited-overs cricket on tour.

Later career and retirement

After 2011, his international appearances became sporadic owing to injuries and the rise of younger spinners such as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He played his last Test in 2015 and his final international match in 2016. He formally announced retirement from all forms of cricket on 24 December 2021.

Indian Premier League

Harbhajan was a marquee player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from its inception in 2008. He represented:

  • Mumbai Indians (2008–2017), captaining the side at various points and winning IPL titles in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
  • Chennai Super Kings (2018–2019), winning the IPL title in 2018.
  • Kolkata Knight Riders (2021).

An incident during IPL 2008, in which he slapped fellow cricketer S. Sreesanth, led to a ban for the remainder of that season.

Bowling style and significance

Harbhajan was known for his sharp turn, bounce extracted from a high action, and an effective doosra developed in the early 2000s. He was for many years India's first-choice off-spinner across formats. He is among a small group of Indian bowlers to have taken more than 400 Test wickets, and was the first Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2003 and the Padma Shri in 2009 for his contributions to cricket.

Political career

In March 2022, Harbhajan Singh joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He was nominated by the party to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, from Punjab, and took oath as a Member of Parliament in April 2022.

Personal life

Harbhajan married Bollywood actress Geeta Basra on 29 October 2015 in Jalandhar. The couple have two children. He is involved in various philanthropic activities and has been associated with charity initiatives in Punjab and elsewhere.

Honours and awards

  • Arjuna Award (2003)
  • Padma Shri (2009)
  • ICC Cricket World Cup winner (2011)
  • ICC World Twenty20 winner (2007)
  • Multiple IPL titles with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings

References

  • Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) player profiles.
  • International Cricket Council (ICC) records and statistics.
  • ESPNcricinfo player archive: Harbhajan Singh.
  • Rajya Sabha official member records, Parliament of India.