Harbhajan Singh’s career in pictures

Harbhajan Singh started his IPL careed with Mumbai Indians, then shifted to CSK, and finished his career with Kolkata Knight Riders. (Source: PTI)

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday. Bhajji, as he was famously known, picked up over 400 Test wickets for India and featured in over 100 Tests, a dream for all the cricketers. He wanted to go out on a high wearing that India shirt but some things are just not meant to be.

Known for generating awkward pace and bounce on turning Indian wickets, Harbhajan made batters dance to his tunes. Ask Ricky Ponting, a legend of that era whom Harbhajan dismissed close to a dozen times in Test cricket. Ponting never really got the measure of Harbhajan’s doosra and the bounce that he generated from his gangly 6 feet frame.

Be it Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh, Jacques Kallis, or Andrew Flintoff, Harbhajan dismissed them all.

Here’s a look at his playing career in pictures.

Harbhajan Singh made his Test debut for India in 1998 against Australia. He went on to play 103 Tests for India, taking 417 wickets. (Source: Getty Images)

Harbhajan Singh made his Test debut for India in 1998 against England. He went on to play 103 Tests for India, taking 417 wickets. (Source: Getty Images)

Harbhajan Singh feautured in 264 white-ball matches for India. In 236 ODI matches, he picked put 269 wickets, while in 28 T20Is, the vetran offie scalped 27 wickets at an economy rate of 6.20 runs per over. (Source: The Hindu)

In 2001, Harbhajan Singh became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket. (Source: SUSHANTO PATRONOBISH., THE HINDU)

In 2008, Harbhajan found hismself engulfed in one of the ugliest cricketing controversy - the monkey-gate saga. Indian team and the team management rallied behind the Punjab spinner after Cricket Australia wanted to ban him for the upcoming Tests. In ‘Playing It My Way’, Sachin Tendulkar wrote “Anil Kumble (the then captain) and I took the lead and it was unanimously decided that we would boycott the tour if Bhajji’s ban was upheld.” (Source: Getty Images)

Harbhajan Singh, the batsman, came to the fore to rescue India, as he hit a six of Shoib Akhtar, and anothe of Mohammad Amir, and win a crucial game against Pakistan in 2010 Aisa Cup. In his 236 ODI matches, the veteran off-spinner also contributed 1,237 runs with the bat. (Source: AP)

Harbhajan Singh picked up nine wickets in nine matches in India’s victorious 2011 World Cup campaign. He was also part of the team that won the 2007 World Cup. (Source: PTI)