Turbanator in numbers: Harbhajan Singh’s legacy in terms of stats

One of India’s most successful bowlers, Harbhajan Singh hung up his boots from all forms of cricket after serving India for many years. Making his debut way back in the year 1998, the Turbanator stormed into the limelight in the home Test series against Australia in 2001. The spin wizard tormented the Aussies in all three Test matches as he finished the series with staggering 32 wickets, eventually helping India win the series 2-1.

Along with Anil Kumble, the Jalandhar-born spinner became a vital cog in the spin department for India as the duo shared 1036 Test wickets between them. Harbhajan Singh took 417 wickets in 103 Test matches, 269 wickets in 236 ODIs, and 25 wickets in 28 T20Is in his illustrious career. Notably, the 41-year-old is one of the three Indian bowlers to bag a hat-trick in Tests which he took in the famous 2001 Test series against the Kangaroos. The Turbanator has played 367 matches in international cricket picking up incredible 711 wickets with an average of 32.54 and snapping five wicket-hauls 28 times.

Most wickets for India in international cricket:

In that memorable 2001 series, which is one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history, the man from Punjab went on to take 32 scalps in just three Test matches, which is still a record. No other Indian bowler has ever reached even the 30 wickets mark in the three-game series.

Most wickets in a 3-match Test series:

Most wickets by Indians against Australia in Tests:

Harbhajan Singh is the first Indian bowler to achieve a Test hat-trick

During the most excellent and marvellous Test series against Australia in 2001 at home, the veteran spinner became the first Indian bowler ever to claim a hat-trick in Tests. In the second Test at Kolkata, with India already 1-0 down in the series, the former Mumbai Indians player spun his web to take a hat-trick by picking up wickets of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne. Since then, Irfan Pathan and Jasprit Bumrah are the other two Indian bowlers to achieve the feat.

Hat-tricks by Indians in Tests:

The 2007 and 2011 World Cup winner was not just successful in international cricket, but also in the Indian T20 League as he won the trophy thrice with franchise Mumbai Indians and once with Chennai Super Kings. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the League history and third spinner with the most wickets (150) in one of the world’s most entertaining T20 League. For Mumbai Indians, he is the third bowler with the most scalps (127) to his name. His numbers in T20 Internationals are also pretty impressive.

Best economy-rate by Indians in T20Is: (min 25 wickets)