Harbhajan Singh is one of the biggest match winners that India has ever seen and especially in the last 25 years because he was someone who could change the course of the match by himself when he used to bowl legendary spells of bowling and he became the turbanator who served Indian cricket for a number of years with great aplomb and determination and heart. He is one of the best off spinners the game has ever seen and his numbers prove it.
Harbhajan Singh represented India from the year 1998 till 2016. He can be very proud of himself about what all he has accomplished in the game and enjoy life as a retired cricketer. So, let’s see the Top 5 Best Harbhajan Singh bowling performances
5/31 vs England (2006): Harbhajan Singh’s best bowling figures in ODI
Harbhajan Singh delivered his career best ODI bowling performance against England in 2006, taking 5 key wickets and helping India defend a modest total of 204. Not only was he exceptional with the ball, but he also contributed as an all-rounder, top-scoring with 37 runs. He took the crucial wickets of Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood. India won the match by 39 runs.
5/56 vs Sri Lanka (2009)
This was one of the most memorable ODI bowling performances by Harbhajan Singh in his career as this was also the final of the Compaq Cup. India batted first and put up a strong total of 319 runs with the help of Sachin Tendulkar’s century. Sri Lanka got off to a good start in the chase of 319 runs and it was Harbhajan Singh who got India back into the game when he took the important wickets of Dilshan and Jayawardene. He took a total of 5 wickets in the match while giving 56 runs. India won the match by 56 runs.
7/123 and 6/73 vs Australia (2001)
This is the single greatest bowling performance in the career of Harbhajan Singh as there have been lots of great performances but this is the one which gave him the moniker of Turbanator and he was one of the most influential ones who resulted in India winning that test match which changed not just Indian cricket but world cricket. In the first innings he took 7 wickets out of the 10 in a great bowling spell but it was the bowling in the second innings of this test match which made him an instant superstar among the fans. It was the crucial 5th day and Harbhajan Singh was at his very best and he took 6 wickets in the second innings including Steve Waugh, Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting. India won the match by 171 runs.
7/133 and 8/84 vs Australia (2001): Harbhajan Singh’s best bowling figures in Test
This was the test match immediately following the historic win in Kolkata and now India were the favorites to win this test match because they were high on confidence and especially Harbhajan Singh who was the star of the previous test match and he bettered his incredible performance from the Kolkata test match in the match deciding Chenna test match and in the first innings of this test match he got 7 wickets yet again and he bamboozled the Aussies with his off spin and then in the second innings of the deciding test match he got 8 wickets for only 84 runs and he won India the most famous series win and he was the architect of the series win with his 32 wickets throughout the three test match series.
6/64 vs New Zealand (2009)
This was one of the best bowling performances by a spinner in New Zealand conditions especially someone from the subcontinent as Harbhajan Singh yet again showed his class in this test match against a very good New Zealand team especially at their home and he completely tore apart the batting line-up of the New Zealand team and took 6/64 and due to his incredible efforts India won that test match quite easily.
Also look at Best Bowling performances of Shane Warne
