Birthday special: Harbhajan Singh – Five best spells by Indian spin legend
Harbhajan Singh is one of the greatest spinners in Indian cricket history. The legendary spinner is celebrating his 42nd birthday today. After making his debut in 1998, Harbhajan Singh has played for India for more than 18 years. In this birthday special article, we will be discussing the five best bowling spells by the off-spinner.
5) 4/12 vs England, T20I, 2012
India were playing against England in the 2012 T20 World Cup match. The Indian batters helped the team score 170 runs at the loss of 4 wickets with Rohit Sharma hitting a fifty. In response to this total, the England batting line-up looked completely clueless, particularly against Harbhajan Singh. He took 4 wickets for 12 runs including 2 maidens. England was all-out for just 80 runs and lost the match by 90 runs.
4) 5/29 vs Australia, Test, 2004
This is one of the most thrilling Test matches in cricket history. The Indian team could score only 104 runs in the first innings after electing to bat first. In response, Australia scored 203 runs and took the crucial lead of 99 runs. In the second innings, the Indian batsmen performed slightly better and scored 205 runs. Australia now needed only 107 runs to win the Test in the fourth innings. However, Harbhajan Singh showed his magic with the ball and picked up a fifer for 29 runs. The whole Australian team was dismissed for 93 runs, and India registered a close victory by only 13 runs.
3) 5/31 vs England, ODI, 2006
This performance was in the first ODI of the England tour of India in 2006. The home side could score only 203 runs batting first and needed special efforts from the bowlers to win the match. Harbhajan Singh took the charge and picked up 5 wickets for 31 runs. India dismissed England for 164 runs thus winning the match by 39 runs.
2) 8/84 vs Australia, Test, 2001
This was during the third Test of the Australia tour of India in 2001. The Australian team scored 391 runs in the first innings with Harbhajan Singh picking up 7 wickets for 133 runs. India scored 501 runs in response to this total. In the second innings, Harbhajan Singh wreaked havoc again by picking up 8 wickets for 84 runs. India won this match by 2 wickets in the end.
1) 6/73 vs Australia, Test, 2001
This is probably one of the best bowling spells by an Indian bowler in Test history. The Indian team scored 657/7 in the second innings after following on, and now they were dreaming of a victory. Australia needed to chase 384 runs in the fourth innings on the last day while India required 10 wickets.
Harbhajan Singh bowled brilliantly on the Kolkata pitch picking up 6 wickets for 73 runs. The Australian team was all-out for 212 runs, and India registered a famous victory by 171 runs. Earlier in the first innings of the same Test, Harbhajan Singh became the first Indian bowler to pick a hat-trick in Test cricket.
