Harbhajan Singh targeted: Here's what those attacking Bhajji are forgetting about him

Harbhajan Singh, a right-arm off-spin bowler and a right-handed lower-order batsman, who was a headline bowler for Team India throughout his career is facing attack from certain sections for a tweet he posted celebrating India's successful Chandrayaan-2 launch.

While some have targeted 'Bhajji' alleging religious connotations, here's what they should also know about Harbhajan Singh who has hardly looked back since making his debut in 1998 and has never looked back since:

Here are his career highlights:

Pre-Team India:

Harbhajan Singh first made waves when he represented India in the 1998 U-19 World Cup, where he took 8 wickets at an average of 24.75.

ODI career

Singh made his ODI debut against New Zealand at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on April 17, 1998. In his career span he played 236 matches, in them, he took 269 wickets at an economy rate of 4.31, these include three 5-wicket hauls. From the bat, he scored 1237 runs in 128 innings, including some serious cameos with the bat down the order. 

IPL career

Harbhajan Singh made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) while playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the inaugural season. In the 160 matches he has played so far, Singh has 150 wickets to his names. His best bowling figures are 5 for 18. Off te bat, his highest individual score is 64 and he has scored a total of 829 runs with an impressive strike rate of 137.22. Singh was an integral part of MI for 10 years till in 2018, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bagged him at a base price of Rs 2 crore.

T20I career

Harbhajan began his T20 International career against South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on December 1, 2006. In the 28 matches that he played, he took 25 wickets at an economy rate of 6.21. While batting, he scored 108 runs at a strike rate of 124.14. Singh was a crucial part of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2017, his clinical bowling in the semifinal of that tournament against Australia steered India to the tournament final. 

Test career

Harbhajan Singh made his Test debut against Australia at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 25, 1998. He led the spin attack against an invincible Australian team that had set a world record with 16 consecutive Test victories. Singh’s hat-trick in first innings of the Kolkata Test at Eden Gardens not only put a full stop in Australia’s unbeaten campaign but also changed his own life. He went on to take 13 wickets in that match, which India won by 171 runs despite a follow-on being enforced against them. In the 103 matches that he played, he took 417 wickets at an average of 32.46, including 25 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls.

Here are some statistical facts about the Turbanator:

1. In 2001, he became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket, achieving this feat against Australia in the historic Kolkata Test.
2. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket (707) behind Anil Kumble (956), and in total, claimed 711 wickets at the international level 
3. The off-spinner is number three in the wicket-taking charts in Test cricket for India, behind Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434).
4. As far as IPL action goes – again, Harbhajan is third in the all-time wicket-takers list with 127. Only Lasith Malinga (154) and Amit Mishra (134) lie ahead of him.
5.  He is also the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in one-day international cricket with 265 dismissals to his name.

READ | 'Don't Think He's Done Anything Wrong': Majinder Sirsa Defends Harbhajan Singh Over His Controversial Tweet After Chandrayaan 2 Launch