New Delhi: One of the greatest Indian cricketers ever to play the Gentlemen’s game, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh announced his retirement from the sport on Friday.
In a tweet, Bhajji wrote: “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.”
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 .https://t.co/iD6WHU46MU— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 24, 2021
Singh is among the few players who have been part of India’s historic World Cup triumphs in 2007 (T20) and 2011. Where picked up 7 wickets, bowling in tough phases in the inaugural T20 World Cup leading the spin-bowling attack in 2011 as India outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan in the semi-final before beating Sri Lanka in the final.
He was no other with the bat either, having scored two centuries and nine half-centuries with a top score of 115. He is also the first Indian bowler to pick up a hat-trick in Test cricket. He achieved the feat against Australia at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, back in 2001.
“In my mind, I retired earlier but I am making the announcement today. My journey from the streets of Jalandhar to become the Turnabator for Team India has been a beautiful one. There is no bigger motivation for me in life than stepping out on the field, wearing the India jersey. There comes a time in life where we have to take a tough decision, you have to move forward in life. I was waiting for the last few years to make this announcement public — I am retiring from all forms of cricket,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
Notably, his last international appearance came back in 2016 in a T20 International. Harbhajan ends his career having played 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 28 T20Is for India. He took 417 wickets in 103 Tests that he played, which is currently the fourth most number of wickets by an Indian bowler in Test Cricket. The 41-year-old Harbhajan, who last featured in a few matches during the first phase of the last IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders, didn’t play a single game in the UAE leg of the league.
