Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh talked about his experience of playing under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni.
Harbhajan Singh on Friday (24th December) announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Having made his India debut in 1998 as a 17-year-old, the off-spinner Singh is considered to be one of India’s best spinners.
He came into the limelight with his terrific performance against Australia in the historic 2001 home series, where he scalped 32 wickets in 3 Test matches and also became the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket.
Harbhajan Singh during his career mostly played under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. He had his ups and downs in his career spanning 24 years but his ‘never give up attitude' was something that was lauded by many.
He was also a part of many historic Indian team victories in international cricket, including victory in the T20 World Cup 2007 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
While talking to PTI, Harbhajan Singh talked about playing under Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. The veteran off-spinner pointed out that the southpaw handheld him at the juncture of his career when he was ‘no one’ while the wicketkeeper-batter became captain when he was ‘someone’.
He added that Ganguly knew he had skills but didn’t know whether he’ll deliver or not but Dhoni was aware that he’ll win a few matches for him.
"It's a simple answer for me. Sourav Ganguly handheld 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.
“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,” Harbhajan Singh said.
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Harbhajan Singh further lauded Sourav Ganguly for backing him and said that the southpaw was the leader that made him what he’s today.
He also praised MS Dhoni for his leadership, saying that he carried the legacy of Ganguly with him and along with wicketkeeper-batter he fought great battles that he’ll always cherish.
"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.
“But yes, Dhoni certainly was a very good captain and he carried the legacy of Sourav and with Dhoni, together we fought some great battles that I will certainly cherish," 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.
(PTI Inputs)
