Sourav Ganguly handheld me when I was ‘No One’ : Harbhajan Singh

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has lauded Sourav Ganguly for guiding him at a time when he was yet to make a name for himself at the highest level. Harbhajan made his international debut as a teenager back in 1998, but it was only after India’s three-match Test series against Australia in 2001 that he became a household name.

Harbhajan picked up 31 wickets, including a hat-trick at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. On the back of his spells, the hosts won the series 2-1 after initially going 0-1 down following a defeat in the Mumbai Test. The veteran also said that by the time MS Dhoni became the skipper of the Indian team, he had already carved a niche for himself in international cricket.

Dada knew I had skills, says Harbhajan Singh

“It’s a simple answer for me. Sourav Ganguly hand held me at that juncture of my career when I was a ‘No One’. But when Dhoni became the captain, I was a “Someone”. So, you need to understand the big difference,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying in Sportskeeda.

Harbhajan, who finished with 711 wickets at the international arena, thanked Ganguly for instilling faith in him and backing him wholeheartedly in the early part of his career.

“Dada knew I had skills but didn’t know whether I will deliver. In case of Dhoni, he knew that I have been there and done that. He knew that I have won matches before him and will win a few for him also,” he stated.

“In life and in profession, you need that one person, who will guide you at the proper moment and Sourav was that man for me. If Sourav wouldn’t have fought for me and got me in the team, who knows, today you might not be taking this interview of mine. Sourav is the leader who made me what I am,” Harbhajan added.

Until India’s recent Test series against New Zealand, Harbhajan was India’s second-most successful spinner after Anil Kumble. However, Ravi Ashwin surpassed his Test tally of 417 wickets to take the third spot in the list of all-time highest wicket-taker for the national team in Test cricket.