OTD: Spin legend Harbhajan Singh was Born – A true game changer for Indian Cricket

One of the finest spinners in cricket history ever witnessed, Harbhajan Singh, turns 45. The match winner was born on July 3, 1980. Now, he plays as a cricket expert and commentator and runs his own YouTube channel.

Singh's legacy flows beyond the numbers and stats. His unmatched passion for the game still can cause goosebumps if someone wishes to turn on the highlights. One of the most highlighted moments of his career came when he became the first Indian to claim a Test hat-trick in the historic Test match against Australia in Kolkata in 2001.

After another legend, Anil Kumble, the Punjab-born spinner concluded his career as India’s all-time second-highest wicket-taker across formats. During his career, the bowler with his trademark bowling action took 417 wickets in Tests, 269 scalps in ODIs, and 25 in T20 Internationals. Hailing from Jalandhar, Harbhajan, known as 'Turbunator,' was an integral part of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup-winning campaign for Team India.

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Harbhajan Singh's first and last match for Team India 

During his era, it was mostly dominated by powerful batters, pacers, and wrist spinners. But Singh established his legacy as a finger spinner. Even in flat wickets, he was one of the main bowlers to take wickets for the Men in Blue Brigade. Harbhajan Singh's first Test match was on March 25, 1998, against Australia in Bangalore, and he played his last match for his nation, an ODI against South Africa, on October 25, 2015.

He played his last Test match for India on August 12-15, 2015, against Sri Lanka. Formally, he made his official retirement from all forms of cricket on December 24, 2021.