Veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has hung up his boots on Friday from all forms of cricket after having an illustrious career. While he had made his India debut against New Zealand at Sharjah in 1998 and he played his last game for India in March, 2016 during a T20I against the UAE at Dhaka as well.
Harbhajan Singh has represented India in 103 Tests, 236 ODIs, and 28 T20Is. Moreover, he was also a part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. With 417 Test wickets, 269 ODI scalps, and 25 T20 Internationals wickets, he was one of the best in the business as well.
Apart from this, he has played for Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, playing 163 IPL matches and taking 150 wickets at an average of 26 as well.
“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 has 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,” he added.
“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 Singh said on his YouTube channel while wearing an India blazer.
The 90’s kids were seemingly unhappy as another childhood superstar bites the dust. They poured in tributes for Harbhajan Singh on the microblogging site Twitter.
Here is how Twitterati reacted:
The legend in @harbhajan_singh will live forever. It has been a pleasure speaking to him on a few occasions and his flamboyance is unmistakable every time. never shy of biting the bullet. Greats are made off the field as much as on it and Bhajji is right up there. #BhajjiRetires
— Debayan Mukherjee (@debayansays) December 24, 2021
Harbhajan Singh today becomes the last player to retire from Test cricket among all who played men's Test cricket before 2000.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 24, 2021
417 wickets in Test.
269 wickets in Odi.
25 wickets in T20I.
150 wickets in IPL.T20 WC winner, ODI WC winner, IPL winner, CLT20 winner – one of the finest spinners in Indian cricket history. Thank You, Harbhajan. @harbhajan_singh https://t.co/2ms2uCCvek
— Md Sahid Mondal (@imdsahidmondal) December 24, 2021
Best wishes to the one of the best Indian Spinner @harbhajan_singh for the Retirement 🎾🏏 Every Indian Will miss your bowling action and I am pretty sure everyone has once in life tried your bowling action #Bhajji
— Sanket S Sali (@sanketsali17) December 24, 2021
Amazing journey 23 years long…@harbhajan_singh the King 👑 of spin. Announce retirement.
Thank you for a all unbelievable spell for Indian cricket.
You are not a just player idol of our young spinner.💙🇮🇳
Love you bhaji paa
All the best for secend journey #harbhajansingh— Darshan_vaghela_7 (@Darshan46427145) December 24, 2021
Two proper Harbhajan Singh moments. Thank you for 2001. Inflection point in Indian cricket. Who knows what Indian cricket would have looked like if the rampaging Aussies had just walked all over us in 2001. https://t.co/Kicxytr3sJ pic.twitter.com/eFmn3qHY4E
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) December 24, 2021
We will miss you Bhajji paaji, all the best for your future and congratulations on a successful career.
711 international wickets, take a bow 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/QFjqKb8OIP
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) December 24, 2021
Your contribution to Indian cricket will stay in everyone's hearts forever. Wishing you all the good luck @harbhajan_singh paaji for your second innings. #retirement pic.twitter.com/1eeSHdf6a1
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) December 24, 2021
@harbhajan_singh announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket.
Happy retirement Bhajji. #HarbajanSingh #Bhajji #retirement #BCCI #Cricket 🏏 pic.twitter.com/EHgnLrF9ax— Natraj (@IamMrNatraj) December 24, 2021
The Singh who will always be the King of #TeamIndia 🤩
Bhajju pa, we wish you a happy retirement ♥️#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #harbhajansingh #retirement pic.twitter.com/w86Lcjzou7
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 24, 2021
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