Harbhajan Singh is celebrating his 43rd birthday today. The right-arm off-spinner was a part of the Indian squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Singh played a key role in both the triumphs. His yorker against Michael Clarke in T20 World Cup 2007 semifinal and ball to dismiss Umar Akmal bowled out in 2011 World Cup semifinal are unforgettable.
Even in the IPL, Harbhajan Singh achieved some notable records. He was the first player to captain the Mumbai Indians team in the league. He won three titles with MI and one with CSK. Singh also won the Champions League T20 as the MI captain. On the occasion of his 43rd birthday, in this article now, we will look at the five records of Singh which no other Indian has achieved.
1. Harbhajan Singh is the only Indian spinner with 3 five-wicket hauls in ODIs
Many talented spinners have come in Indian cricket after Harbhajan. However, none of them have been able to break the former Indian off-spinner’s record of registering three five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.
2. Harbhajan Singh is the only bowler to take 4 consecutive 6-wicket hauls in Test cricket
In the entire history of Test cricket, there has been only one bowler who has taken four six-wicket hauls in back-to-back innings. Singh achieved the feat by returning with figures of 7/123, 6/73, 7/133 and 8/84. He achieved the feat in 2001 against Australia.
3. Most wickets by an Indian in a calendar year
Harbhajan owns the record for taking the highest wickets by an Indian bowler in a calendar year. Singh achieved this record in the year 2002. 21 years later, the record still stands.
4. Only lower order batter with back-to-back hundreds
Apart from his spin bowling, Harbhajan was also famous for his contributions with the bat. He is the only lower-order batter who scored back-to-back centuries in Test cricket, having scored 115 and 111 against New Zealand in 2010.
5. Least balls by an Indian for a five-wicket haul in Tests
The overseas batters failed to tackle Harbhajan’s spin in the past. In a Test match against the West Indies cricket team, Singh completed a five-wicket haul in just 27 balls, which is the least by an Indian in Test cricket history.
