It's reasonable to argue that Harbhajan's demeanor made as big of an effect as his off spin bowling, which is a credit to the fiery Indian from Punjab's combative Ludhiana district. Dismissal from the NCA for indiscipline when he was a teenager was only one example of the fire that burned in his belly, but not always for the right reasons. Regardless, he had a wide range of abilities that were tragically buried under the hatchet of off-field issues. After his debut in 1998, it seemed that his career was on the decline. However, during the 2000-2005 period, India's captain, Sourav Ganguly, was adamant on including Sardar in the team for the historic 2001 home series against Australia. Harbhajan Singh did not disappoint his captain, taking 32 wickets in three Tests, including the first hat-trick by an Indian bowler.
This was when Anil Kumble was at the height of his abilities, and over the next few years, Harbhajan and his senior partner created a devastating spin tandem, at times even out bowling the veteran. Harbhajan Singh quickly surpassed Kumble as the side's top spinner in ODIs, owing to his superior offensive skills with the bat and perhaps stronger limited-overs strategy. In Tests, though, Kumble remained the dominant figure, despite having to fight his own war. Harbhajan Singh was tasked with carrying the spin bowling banner forward in the Indian squad after Kumble departed. He had his moments, not just at home, where he was a striking force, but also in some of India's most memorable foreign Test victories.
Despite this, there is no disputing that Harbhajan's career took a turn for the worst once the IPL began. He was a big hit there, but as he adapted to the frantic T20 style, he lost the loop and flight that create a perfect spinner. The trajectory had flattened down significantly, making him a more efficient bowler, but the wickets began to dry up. He is India's most successful off spinner statistically, although he could have done a lot more in the second part of his career. Despite not being at his best, he was instrumental in India's World Cup victory in 2011. Harbhajan's 2010 and 2011 seasons were very difficult, and the rise of Ashwin meant that the former's status was quickly slipping away.
Harbhajan has been in and out of the side since 2012, with Ashwin and Jadeja establishing themselves as the key spinners in Tests and India having a plethora of white-ball alternatives. All of this meant that Harbhajan was limited to sporadic comebacks, most notably in the 2015-16 season, when he appeared in a few Tests and ODIs, as well as receiving a shot in the 2016 World T20. He hasn't played for India in any tournament since 2016, and it's doubtful he would ever do so again. His career is all but ended, despite the fact that he has yet to publicly declare his retirement. Harbhajan Singh has also guided Mumbai Indians to victory in the Champions League.
Harbhajan was a matchwinner at his best, as he not only caused damage with the ball and sometimes with his huge hitting, but he also got under the opponents' skins on a regular basis. The Australians, with whom he had numerous high-profile confrontations, including one with Ricky Ponting in the late 1990s while both were still very young, got the brunt of it. The other is the notorious Andrew Symonds incident in Sydney, when Harbhajan almost got away with it owing to a lack of proof. Even in the IPL, he had his share of problems, the most notable of which was the slapping incident involving S Sreesanth, which resulted in him being suspended for the remainder of the season. Apart from all of this, Harbhajan was an enigma in Indian cricket.
The IPL has evolved throughout time.
Harbhajan's success in the latter half of his career has been primarily in the IPL, where he played a key role in the success of the Mumbai franchise, which has won the championship three times. Since 2008, he has been a regular part of the squad, even serving as captain. In the 2013 season, he took 24 wickets and was instrumental in Mumbai's first championship triumph. He could also bat, striking a 24-ball 64 against Kings XI Punjab in 2015, a match he attempted to win after the top-order had been blasted away.
Harbhajan eventually developed into a bowler who was more economical than a great wicket-taker. After a decade with Mumbai, he was released and purchased by Chennai Super Kings, for whom he appeared in 13 games in 2018. With the better turning tracks at Chepauk, Harbhajan has remained a force to be reckoned with, at least in CSK's home games, where he has strangled opponents.
Retirement from all forms of the game
"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," he tweeted.
"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, dressed in an India blazer, expressed his emotions on his YouTube channel.
In a short time, Twitter was swamped with tributes to the "Turbanator," who provided admirers with many memorable moments. Harbhajan's colleagues and fans wished him well in his new chapter and complimented him on an outstanding career.