Harbhajan Singh, an off-spinner for India, said on Friday that he had been thinking about retiring for a long time and had decided to announce his decision during the Indian Premier League’s 2021 season. Harbhajan earlier in the day took to social media to announce the end of his 23-year international career. The 41-year-old no longer participates in any of the game’s formats.
Harbhajan Singh announced his retirement on his official YouTube channel, saying it was a difficult decision to make, but that he had made up his mind after not playing for India in a few years. In March 2016, the off-spinner last represented India.
After a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Harbhajan Singh joined Kolkata Knight Riders. In the IPL 2020 auction, KKR purchased the veteran spinner for Rs 2 crore, and he was retained by the franchise in 2021. In 2021, he only played three games for KKR, but he was regarded as a mentor for young spinners during their run to the final in the UAE.
“It’s been a beautiful journey from the streets of Jalandhar to becoming the Turnabator for Team India. There is no greater source of motivation for me in life than putting on the India jersey on the field. There comes a time in life when we must make a difficult choice in order to move forward in life. Harbhajan said on Friday, “I’ve been waiting for a few years to make this announcement public — I’m retiring from all forms of cricket.”
“In my mind, I retired a long time ago, but I’m announcing it today.” I have not played cricket actively in the last few years. However, due to a commitment I had made, I stayed with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. “However, I had decided to retire during the season,” he added.
Harbhajan Singh was a match-winner for India in all formats of the game. Few will forget how he stepped up in Anil Kumble’s absence during the 2001 home Test series against Australia. Harbhajan Singh was instrumental in India’s historic victory, taking 32 wickets. Harbhajan Singh took 13 wickets in the historic Kolkata Test, including a hat-trick.
Harbhajan Singh, who debuted for India in 1998, was instrumental in the team’s victories at the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup.
“I was ecstatic when I got my hat-trick in Kolkata; I was the first Indian cricketer to score a hat-trick in a Test match.” In that series, I took 32 wickets in three matches, which is still a record. Following that, I consider my victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup to be extremely significant. These memories will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’m speechless when I think about how happy those victories made me.