25 Things About Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh is perhaps the most successful off spin bowler in cricket world today. This bowler join in India team as a first chosen spin bowler against Australia in 1998 and till now he is the part of Indian cricket team. In his shortage of cricket career he has already mad many records. He is thought to be the top level finger spin bowler. Day by day, he made his bowling action tougher than past. And he is also doosra bowler (a bowler who can turn ball both sides) after Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan. So, he is always the danger sign for his opponent teams.

Now, this bowler has been selected in the list of 16 men Test squad ahead of the Australia tour. And most of you already know that, Aussies pitches are helpful for spin bowlers. So, obviously he will come under limelight. That is why, I have made a list of 25 things about Harbhajan Singh where you will get many information about him that was unknown to you. So, go ahead and read till the end.

1. His full name Harbhajan Singh.
2. He born on July 3, 1980, Jullundur (now Jalandhar), Punjab.
3. His zodiac sign is Cancer by birth.
4. He is Right-arm offbreak and right-hand batsman.
5. He was trained as a batsman by his first coach Charanjit Singh Bullar, but converted to spin bowling after his coach's untimely death saw him turn to the tutelage of Davinder Arora.
6. After his father’s death he became the family head, and as of 2001 he had organized marriages of his sisters.
7. In 2002, he ruled out his own marriage until at least 2008.
8. Harbhajan Singh is affectionately called ‘bhajji’. He has another common nick name outside the India, is ‘The Turbanator’.
9. In 2006, Harbhajan's endorsements generated controversy when he appeared without his turban in an advertisement for Royal Stag whisky. This angered many orthodox Sikhs, leading to anti-Harbhajan protests in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, with effigies of Harbhajan being burnt.
10. Harbhajan made his debut in his first-class cricket late 1997, during the 1997/98 Ranji Trophy season for Punjab cricket team.
11. Playing in six matches, he took 18 wickets at an average of 22.5, ranking outside the top 20 in both wicket taking and averages.
12. He made his debut in Test against Australia in the third Test on March 25-28, 1998.
13. He was 18 year old when he debut in Test cricket.
14. For India team, he has already played 60 Test matches where he haul 248 wickets.
15. He made his debut in ODI against New Zealand at Sharjah on Apr 17, 1998. He got 181 wickets in 161 ODI matches.
16. Harbhajan was then omitted from the team during a home triangular ODI tournament against Bangladesh and Kenya, but was recalled for the Singer Trophy in Sri Lanka, claiming eight wickets at an average of 24.1.
17. Among the new bowlers, he can turn the ball in both sides which is called doosra. He is thought to be India’s most successful off spin bowler.
18. However in 2001, with leading leg spinner Anil Kumble injured, Harbhajan's career was resuscitated after Indian captain Sourav Ganguly called for his inclusion in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy team.
19. Harbhajan Singh established himself as the team’s leading spinner by taking 32 wickets after the series victory over Australia.
20. He is the first Indian bowler to take a hat trick in Test cricket.
21. Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne were the victim of his hat trick in Test cricket.
22. Ricky Ponting plumb in front off the first ball of his 16th over. He then had the dangerman Adam Gilchrist also LBW and then completed his hattrick when Shane Warne offered a sharp chance at Forward Shortleg which was brilliantly taken by Sadagoppan Ramesh.
23. He awarded man of the match 8 times.
24. Harbhajan Singh is one of the two spinners selected for the world cup and may be used along with Anil Kumble. He was given permission from ICC.
25. Harbhajan was selected to make his Test debut in the Third Test against Australia in Bangalore, where he recorded the modest match figures of 2/136.

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