Harbhajan Singh
Off-spin legend, Rajya Sabha MP, and IPL champion with Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Harbhajan Singh (born 3 July 1980) is an Indian politician and former cricketer. He currently serves as a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. Harbhajan played on the teams that won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, and 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, along with Sri Lanka. He played for the Indian national cricket team from 1998 to 2016 as an off spin bowler. Domestically, he played for the Punjab cricket team; and in the Indian Premier League for the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders. He is also a film actor, a television celebrity, and a cricket commentator.
- Role
- Off-Spin Bowler / Captain
- Franchise Tenure
- 2008–2016
- Status
- Retired from IPL
- Key Title
- Inaugural Captain
- Home Ground
- Arun Jaitley Stadium
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Harbhajan Singh was born to a Sikh Ramgarhia family, the only son of Sardar Sardev Singh Plaha, a freedom fighter who owned a ball bearing and valve factory. He grew up with five sisters. He was trained as a batsman by his first coach, Charanjit Singh Bhullar, but converted to spin bowling after his coach's untimely death saw him under the tutelage of Davinder Arora. He made his first-class debut in late 1997 against Services during the 1997–98 Ranji Trophy season. He was selected to tour Australia in 1999–2000 as the second spinner but did not play in the Tests. He was expelled from the National Cricket Academy on disciplinary grounds. He made his Test debut in the Third Test against Australia in Bangalore.
In Their Own Story
Harbhajan walked to the crease, adjusting his turban, the weight of the city on his shoulders. The crowd roared 'Bajji!' with every step. He tossed the ball up, the red leather glowing in the light, and delivered a perfect googly that spun sharply past the bat's edge. Three wickets later, he stood tall behind the stumps, knowing this was just another chapter in Delhi’s long history.
Reader's Guide
Harbhajan Singh played for Punjab Under-16s at age 15, taking 7/46 and 5/138 on debut. He played for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy and for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy. In the IPL, he played for Mumbai Indians from 2009 to 2011, taking 12 wickets in 2009, 17 wickets in 2010, and had a successful 2011 season including 5/18 against Chennai Super Kings. He captained Mumbai Indians to the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 title. He was acquired by Chennai Super Kings in 2018, ended his contract on 20 January 2021, and was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2021 IPL auction. He is captain of the Manipal Tigers in Legends League Cricket, who won the 2023 title.
Did You Know?
- Harbhajan Singh took 7/46 and 5/138 on his debut for Punjab Under-16s against Haryana.
- He was expelled from the National Cricket Academy on disciplinary grounds.
- He took 5/18 against Chennai Super Kings in the 2011 IPL, the best bowling figures at Wankhede Stadium in the IPL.
- He captained Mumbai Indians to their first ever championship, winning the 2011 Champions League Twenty20.
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