Full name: Harbhajan Singh
Born on: 30 July 1980, Jalandhar, Punjab
Nickname: Bhajji; Turbanator
Bowling style: Right arm off break
Batting style: Right-handed
Role: Lead spin-bowler
Test debut: 25 March 1998 v Australia
ODI debut: 17 April 1998 v New Zealand
Team playing for: India; Mumbai Indians; Asia XI; Lancashire; Surrey
Awards and Achievements:
* Padma Shri India's fourth highest civilian honor in 2009
* Test Cricket: 3 times the man of the series and five times the man of the match
* ODI Cricket: three times the man of the match
* First Indian bowler to get a hatrick wicket in Test cricket
* Third largest institution of window between players and off-spin bowlers first higher among indigenous
Harbhajan Singh the only son of businessman Sardar Singh Sardev, grew up with five sisters. Charanjit Singh Bullas his first coach trained him as a hitter, but then becomes an off-spinner. His next coach Davinder Arora gives it a great work ethic that lasted more than five hours a day.
His early career, although he was full of ball throwing disputes, disciplinary action. Despite making his test debut in 1998 that was never considered as part of a team until 2001. He always ignored by Anil Kumble, Murali Karthik, Sunil Joshi, Sarandeep Singh. Being sidelined for more than 12 months and his father's death and the only son who was thinking about quitting cricket and become a U.S. truck driver for life to support his mother and five sisters.
However, in 2001, with the leg India's leading spinner Anil Kumble injured, Harbhajan's career was resurrected after the then Indian captain Sourav Ganguly called for his inclusion in the team Border Gavaskar Trophy. In the series victory over Australia, Harbhajan was established as the leading spinner in the team to take 32 wickets, becoming the first Indian bowler to have a hat trick in Test cricket.
Since then, his passion, talent to win games, great control on the ball, ability to vary its length and pace, his Doosra has made India's most successful bowler offspoin.
Their batting, with July 1950 in 82 Tests and ODI strike rate has also made the contribution.
Commercially, though there have been a few initially flops, was estimated to be commercially viable cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in 2005 seconds.
His overseas record, despite two to five, to the West Indies in India's last tour there in 2006, remains a concern: that average nearly 40 stop outside India, while at home , averages just over 25.
Controversies
Doosra: His Doosra was the subject of a formal report of match referee Chris Overall, the referees on the pitch and Aleem Dar and Mark Benson TV umpire Mahbubur Rahman after the second test between India and Bangladesh in Chittagong, Bangladesh in December 2004 . In May 2005, the ICC cleared his action, saying that the rectification of his elbow fell within allowable limits.
Policy team: In 2005, following the appointment of Greg Chappell as India coach, and his subsequent dismissal of captain Sourav Ganguly lead to a conflict with Harbhajan, who was regarded as a supporter Ganguly. Harbhajan has publicly said Chappell had used "double standards" and instilled "fear and insecurity" in the computer. He was called by the Punjab Cricket Association to explain his actions, but was not punished after offering an apology. In early 2006, Harbahajan changed his stance publicly, praising Chappell for the team improved form, stating that "It has great knowledge about the game and has been a very successful year for us in it. He has taken our team to great heights" .
Royal Stag Controversy: Harbhajan appeared without his turban in an advertisement for Royal Stag, a whiskey brand owned by Seagram. This angered many orthodox Sikhs, leading to anti-Harbhajan protests in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, with effigies being burnt. The Sikh clergy and Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) demanded an apology from him and asked Seagram has extracted an apology from the cricketer. Also, Seagram has asked to withdraw the notice on the grounds that he had "hurt the feelings of Sikhs." Harbhajan quickly issued an apology, but he was also unhappy with the interference of clergy, "If they were unhappy, they should have called me and talked like a child."
Racism: Harbhajan rivalry with the Australians resulted in a brawl on the field during Australia's tour of India in October 2007 but things boiled in Sydney in January 2008 when Harbhajan was accused of racist abuse Andrew Symonds. He was given a ban of three trials, but the charge was reduced on appeal, to abuse and insult not amounting to racism and the ban became a fine.
Slap: In April 2008, Harbhajan was involved in another controversy - this time with an Indian team-mate - when video evidence showed him slapping Sreesanth without any provocation after an IPL game in Mohali. He pleaded guilty in a hearing and was banned for 11 IPL matches.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
