Even in his wildest dreams, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh might have never imagined that he would be named man of the match in a Test match for his batting.
Harbhajan, who was part of the T20 squad for the three-match series, was left out for the ODIs but got a lucky call-up after Ashwin managed to bowl only 4.4 overs at Green Park.
Sunil Gavaskar has welcomed the return of Harbhajan Singh to the Indian cricket team after more than two years, saying the off-spinner looks in good form even though he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone with close to 700 international wickets under his belt.
The BCCI banned Harbhajan Singh for a further five one-day internationals for slapping teammate S Sreesanth.
After an injury-induced lay-off of six months, the off-spinner declared he was "200 per cent" fit and working on a 'magic ball' that would take his opponents by surprise.
Out-of-favour India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that the bowlers may face a tough time with the implementation of ICC's new ODI rule.
The off-spinner will attend the fitness camp for Asia Cup probables in Bangalore instead.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh celebrated his return to the Test side by leading Punjab to an innings victory over Hyderabad on the fourth and final day of their opening Ranji Trophy group league match in Mohali on Monday.
The ace off-spinner said his performance against Pakistan was affected because of the confusion about the legality of his bowling action.
Also making it to the list was left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Monday said he may not be a dud with the bat anymore but he is not an all-rounder either.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh is expected to officially announce his retirement from competitive cricket sometime next week and after that he will decide on an offer to be a part of the support staff of a franchise.
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday admitted that he was not being able to produce his best bowling so far against England in the ongoing two-match Test series.
Ahead of the second one-day international against Australia, India's combative off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has predicted a five-two score line in favour of his team, and added that India will top ODI rankings at the end of the seven match series.
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has likened the 'Whereabouts' clause of the WADA Anti-Doping Code to an iron chain and also hit out at sportspersons who have criticised cricketers for not signing it.
The injury to Harbhajan gave the chance to Murali Kartik to make another of his infrequent appearances in the team.
It is still not clear whether the off-spinner would need to undergo surgery on his injured finger
The Indian off-spinner says he'll have five fielders on the on-side for the Sri Lanka batsman in Sunday's final.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is confident that the off-spinner's return for India's year-end tour of Australia for a four-Test series.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly took a swipe at the selectors' decision to omit leftarm spinner Pragyan Ojha, especially after a 10-wicket haul in his last Test.
The Indian selectors named left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan in the 17-member squad for the tour of Australia, which begins on December 26, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed out on a place in India's one-day squad for the tour of Sri Lanka because of a hamstring injury, said he would come back fitter for the subsequent series against New Zealand.
Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is recuperating well from his shoulder injury, which has kept him out of action from Punjab's last two Ranji Trophy encounters, and is expected to return to competitive cricket in another 10 days time.
A resurgent India have dropped struggling opener Wasim Jaffer but are still undecided whether to opt for a five-pronged bowling attack as they go into the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday seeking to level the four-match series.
India's star batters have lost a lot of confidence over the years by playing on rank turners, with their home averages taking a beating and affecting their careers adversely, feels former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
The Indian selectors named left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan in the 17-member squad for the tour of Australia, which begins on December 26, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
The selectors finally lost patience with Virender Sehwag and dropped him from the Indian team for the last two Tests against Australia.
After achieving the number one status in Test cricket, the Indian team will strive to end the year on a high by winning the five-match One-Day International series against Sri Lanka, says off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. India ascended to the top of Test rankings after winning the three-match series against Sri Lanka 2-0.
The off spinner was guilty of violating the players' code of conduct during India's five-wicket loss to South Africa in the first ODI.
The BCCI has suspended the IPL till April 15 but the tournament is increasingly looking unlikely given the current nationwide lockdown to contain the virus. Harbhajan Singh says he won't mind Indian Premier League played in empty stadiums but the event should go ahead when the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control as several livelihoods are dependent on the it.
The off-spinner said the visitors are only interested in drawing the series in India.
Following surgery on his finger, the ace off-spinner will also miss the tour of Pakistan.
India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Thursday came down hard on the pitch at the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad saying pitches must be prepared to suit the home bowlers.
Off spinner Harbhajan Singh, not picked in the playing eleven for the third Test match in progress against England at Kolkata, is hopeful of getting into the side after leading Punjab in the Ranji Trophy league game against Mumbai.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is excited that India are playing in Mumbai in the World Cup final on Saturday as the city has become his second home after basing there for three years as a Mumbai Indians player.
Recuperating from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Sri Lanka tour, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he is regaining full fitness and is looking forward to spearhead India's spin attack in New Zealand.
India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday said he has never been approached by a bookie in his career and would slap anybody who dares to approach him to fix games.
Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was back in his element as he had match-haul of seven wickets (4/91 & 3/62) for Essex against Glamorgan in an English county game, which ended at the Castle Park Ground, in Colchester, on Saturday.
