Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh Plaha (born 3 July 1980) is a former Indian cricketer who was one of the most successful off-spinners in Indian cricket history. He took over 700 international wickets across formats and was a key member of the Indian teams that won the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Born in Jalandhar, Punjab, Harbhajan was originally trained as a fast bowler before switching to spin bowling. He made his Test debut in 1998 and quickly established himself as India's premier spinner. His most famous performance came in the 2001 Test series against Australia at home, where he took 32 wickets in three Tests — including hat-tricks — as India came back from 0-1 down to win the series 2-1. This series is considered one of the greatest comebacks in Test cricket history. Harbhajan was known for his aggressive bowling, sharp turn, and ability to take wickets on any surface. He formed a formidable spin partnership with Anil Kumble and later with Ravichandran Ashwin. He was particularly effective against Australian batsmen during the famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy rivalries. After retirement, Harbhajan entered politics and joined the Aam Aadmi Party, being elected to the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament) in 2024.