Former England spinner Monty Panesar wished Harbhajan Singh on his retirement, saying that the veteran Indian off-spinner was a huge inspiration for him. 

Harbhajan Singh is arguably considered to be one of India’s best spinners, with 417 Test wickets to his name. 

Having made his India debut in 1998 as a 17-year-old, Harbhajan made headlines with his terrific performance against Australia in the historic 2001 home series, where he scalped 32 wickets in 3 Test matches. 

Since then his career reached new heights as he became part of many historic Indian team victories in international cricket. This included being part of the Indian team's victory in the T20 World Cup 2007 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. 

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On Friday (24th December), veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh finally called time on his cricketing career, spanning 24 years. The Punjab-born spinner received many tributes and wishes on his fantastic career across the globe. 

Former English skipper, Monty Panesar hailed Harbhajan Singh as one of the great spinners that he admired as a youngster. He remarked that veteran Indian off-spinner was a huge inspiration for him as he used to think he looks like him, wears patka and plays for his country. 

"He is one of the great spinners I have always admired and even when I was a youngster. You look up to someone as a youngster who looks like you, who is a spinner, who wears a patka, plays for India and I thought, maybe, I can do the same. He was a huge inspiration for me,” Monty Panesar told ANI. 

Monty Panesar pointed out that people will remember Harbhajan Singh for his heroics in the 2001 Test series against Australia. He lauded the off-spinner as one of the most successful Indian bowlers in all formats of the game. 

"It is great to see Indian 'Turbanator' have such a successful career. I think people are going to remember him for the 2001 Test series against Australia which was sort of his introduction to international cricket and it was a phenomenal series. He is one of the most successful bowlers in all formats for India among spinners," he said. 

Harbhajan Singh represented India in 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 28 T20Is. The off-spinner claimed 417 wickets in the longest format of the game and picked 269 and 25 wickets in ODIs and T20Is respectively. 

(ANI inputs)