Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently said that the Test series against Australia in 2001 played a vital role in his career and made him the player he is today.
Harbhajan, who will be celebrating his 40th birthday next month, participated in a YouTube chat session with former Indian batsman Akash Chopra and rated the three high points of his career.
2001 series against Australia at top spot
Harbhajan Singh, who is famously known by his nickname ‘The Turbanator’, was in sublime form when Australia came to tour India in 2001 for a three-match Test series, followed by an ODI series.
The 39-year-old, who has featured in 103 Tests, claiming 417 wickets, was adjudged the Player of the Series as he picked up 32 scalps in the three Tests.
“As a player, I will rate 2001 series against Australia at the top spot as it made me the player I am today.”
Notably, Harbhajan also went on to take a hat-trick in the Kolkata Test, which is more famous for Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman’s stand as India beat Australia to end the visitors’ 16-game winning streak.
Winning the World Cup was Harbhajan Singh’s childhood dream
Harbhajan Singh then went on to put India’s World Cup triumph in 2011 at par with the 2001 series against Australia as lifting the prestigious trophy was always his childhood dream.
“If I look at my childhood dream, I always wanted to win the World Cup and it came true in 2011 so I will keep it at par with the 2001 series.”
2007 T20 World Cup win was unbelievable
Explaining the next high point of his career, the veteran off-spinner said the 2007 T20 World Cup win and the warm welcome the Indian team received after returning to the country was unbelievable.
“Winning the T20 World Cup in 2007 was unbelievable. When we landed back in India, we got a huge amount of support, I have never seen anything like that before, I would not be able to rate these three moments as all are very special to me.”
India, under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, defeated Pakistan by 5 runs in a thrilling final to win the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup.
Follow us on facebook for more sports news & updates