Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who has 700 international wickets to his name has been a match-winner for India at various venues across the globe. But the one ground that holds a special place in the bowler’s heart is the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

In seven matches the right-arm spinner has played at this venue, he picked 46 wickets win an average of 21.76 with six five-wicket hauls along with a sole 10-wicket haul.

Harbhajan’s journey began after he picked a hat-trick against the Aussies in 2001 Border-Gavaskar trophy and became the first Indian bowler to do so in the longest format of the game.

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While talking to KKR.in, the veteran off-spinner who plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) said that he has a special connection with the City of Joy, Kolkata. He believes some divine power watches over him whenever he plays at the Eden Gardens.

“I believe there is some higher power that watches over me when I play any match at Eden Gardens. Only a select few have been showered with the blessings of doing so well in the city of Kolkata, and I’m one of its favourite sons. I’m really glad I got my hat-trick for India at Eden Gardens,” Singh was quoted as saying.

The 40-year-old who registered his best bowling figures 7/87 at Eden Gardens against the Proteas in 2004, was also the highest wicket-taker against Australia in 2001 with 32 wickets to his name. In IPL 2021, the off-spinner represented KKR in three-matches but was unable to pick any wicket.

(With KKR.in Inputs)