Harbhajan Singh - Bhajji
Harbhajan Singh nick name Bhajji born on 3rd July, 1980 in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, is an Indian cricketer. A specialist spin bowler, he has the third-highest number of Test wickets by an off spinner and the highest among Indian off spinners. Bhajji was born into a middle class Punjabi family. He was the only son of Sardar Sardev Singh, a businessman who owned a ball bearing and valve factory. Growing up with five sisters, Bhajji was in line to inherit the family business, but his father insisted that he concentrate on his cricket career and represent India. 
Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh - Bhajji have been chosen for the Padma Shri awards for this year. Along with Bhajji India Golden boy Abhinav Bindra have got the Padama Bhushan awards for this year.
Bhajji is injured
India premier off spinner Bhajji is likely to undergo surgery on his
right hand finger at a hospital in Baltimore in the US, where master blaster Sachin was successfully operated upon. Bhajji, who sustained a finger injury during India's tour of New Zealand earlier this year, underwent an MRI scan at the Lalavati Hospital on Saturday afternoon. That's why he can't go to tour SriLanka with the Team India to play 5 ODI and 2 T20 matches schedule to play in feb,2009.
Bhajji early year and personal life 
Bhajji was trained as a batsman by his first coach Charanjit Singh Bullar, but converted to spin bowling after his coach's untimely death saw him turn to the tutelage of Davinder Arora. Following the death of his father in 2000, Harbhajan became the family head, and as of 2001, had organised marriages for three of his sisters. In 2002, he ruled out his own marriage until at least 2008. In 2005, he again fended off marriage rumours linking him to a Bangalore based bride, stating that he would only make a decision "after a couple of years", and that he would be seeking a Punjabi bride selected by his family.
Harbhajan Singh - Bhajji in IPL 
In the first season of the IPL tournament Bhajji played for Mubbai Indians as their premier spinner bowler. In the absense of Sachin the master blaster he took captaincy for few matches. But Bhajji was banned for IPL after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab at Mohali in April 2008, he slapped Kings XI paceman and Indian team-mate Sreesanth. The match referee banned Bhajji from the remainder of the IPL and fining him all of his match fee.
Controversy with Bhajji
Bhajji problems with NCA 
In mid-2000, an opportunity arose when Bhajji was selected in the first group of trainees sent to the NCA to study under Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. However, his behaviour did not conform to requirements, and he was expelled on disciplinary grounds. His sponsorship job with Indian Airlines was also reviewed as a result of his indiscipline. Harbhajan later admitted that he had been at fault earlier in his career.
Bhajji's problem with Match Referee
Harbhajan was fined and reprimanded by the match referee Chris Reed in his first international series, when his on-field behaviour was adjudged to breach the ICC Code of Conduct. The incident in question was his altercation with Ricky Ponting after dismissing him.
Bhajji suspicious bowling action 
With a whippy bowling action, Bhajji was reported for throwing in November 1998. He was forced to travel to England for tests, but his action was cleared by former English player Fred Titmus.
Bhajji has developed an ability to bowl the doosra, which was the subject of an official report by match referee Chris Broad, on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Mark Benson, and TV umpire Mahbubur Rahman after the Second Test between India and Bangladesh at Chittagong, Bangladesh in December 2004. The ICC cleared his action in May 2005, saying that the straightening of his elbow fell within the permitted limits.
Bhajji in Royal Stag adverstisement 
In 2006, Bhajji's endorsements generated controversy when he appeared without his turban in an advertisement for Royal Stag whisky. This angered many orthodox Sikhs, leading to anti-Harbhajan protests in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, with effigies of Harbhajan being burnt. The Sikh clergy and Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee demanded an apology from him and asked Seagram's to withdraw the advert, on the basis that it had "hurt the feelings of Sikhs". Harbhajan quickly issued an apology, but he was also unhappy at the clergy's interference.
Bhajji's in Chappel era
Harbhajan's difficulties were compounded when he earned the ire of cricket authorities by publicly attacking Chappell and defending Ganguly after the team returned to India. He claimed that Chappell had used "double standards" and instilled "fear and insecurity" into the team. The Punjab Cricket Association called him to explain his actions, but he was not punished after offering an apology. In early 2006, Harbhajan changed his stance publicly, praising Chappell for the team's improved form, stating "He has great knowledge about the game and it has been a very successful year for us under him. He has lifted our team to great heights".
Bhajji caught in Racial abuse charges 
While Bhajji was batting during the third day of the Second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he became involved in an altercation with Australia's Andrew Symonds. As a result of this, he was charged with a Level 3 charge of racially abusing Symonds. Harbhajan was alleged to have called Symonds a "monkey". Harbhajan and his batting partner at the time of the incident, Sachin Tendulkar, denied this. At a hearing after the conclusion of the Test, match referee Mike Procter found Harbhajan guilty of the charge and imposed a ban of three Test matches. This decision generated controversy because no audio or video evidence was used, instead relying on the testimony of Australian players. The Indian team initially threatened to withdraw from the series pending an appeal against Harbhajan's suspension.
On January 29, following the Fourth Test, the appeal hearing was conducted in Adelaide by ICC Appeals Commissioner Justice John Hansen. The appeal hearing determined that the racism charge against Harbhajan was not proved, resulting in the revocation of the three Test ban imposed by match referee Mike Procter. However, Harbhajan was found guilty of using abusive language and fined 50% of his match fee.
Bhajji slapped Sreesanth 
Bhajji was involved in further controversy after an 2008 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab at Mohali in April 2008. While the teams were shaking hands, he slapped Punjab paceman and Indian team-mate Sreesanth. The Punjab team lodged an official compliant to the IPL. The match referee Farokh Engineer found Harbhajan guilty of a level 4.2 offence, banning him from the remainder of the IPL and fining him all of his match fee. Harbhajan made up with Sreesanth, and said that "I have been punished for the wrong I did". On May 14, the BCCI disciplinary committee found Harbhajan guilty under Rule 3.2.1 of the BCCI regulations and handed down the maximum punishment of five-match ban from ODIs. Harbhajan faces the prospect of a life ban if he commits further disciplinary breaches. As a result, Harbhajan missed the tri-series in Bangladesh and the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan.
Bhajji Early year of Career 
Bhajji made his first-class cricket debut in late 1997, during the 1997–98 Ranji Trophy season for Punjab cricket team. Playing in six matches, he took 18 wickets at an average of 22.50, ranking outside the top 20 in wicket taking. He played in only one Duleep Trophy match for North Zone, in which he took 5/131. Despite the superior statistics of other bowlers in domestic cricket, Bhajji was selected to make his Test debut in the Third Test against Australia in Bangalore, where he recorded the modest match figures of 2/136. He was subsequently overlooked for the ODI tournament that followed the Tests, involving Zimbabwe in addition to Australia, but was selected for all group matches in the triangular tournament that followed soon after in Sharjah, where he made his ODI debut against New Zealand.
Bhajji was then omitted from the team during a home triangular ODI tournament against Bangladesh and Kenya, but was recalled for the Singer Trophy in Sri Lanka. Harbhajan claimed eight wickets at an average of 24.12 in this tournament. After again being omitted for the Sahara Cup series against Pakistan in Toronto, Harbhajan took five wickets at an average of 22.60 on a tour to Zimbabwe, in what would prove to be his last ODI appearances for India for more than two years. In all, he took 18 wickets at an average of 27.2 during the 1998.
Harbhajan was retained in the Test team, taking 5/106 in the only Test on the Zimbabwe tour. However, his opportunities were limited in the 1998–99 season, playing in five of the seven Tests after being omitted for matches against New Zealand and Pakistan respectively. In all, he claimed 13 wickets at an average of 36.8. When he was free of international fixtures for the season, he played in the Ranji Trophy matches, claiming 27 wickets at an average of 24.59 in five matches, including his first five-wicket haul at first-class level. Harbhajan was overlooked for the ODI team for the whole season and missed selection for the 1999 Cricket World Cup. He managed to retain his Test position for the late 1999 home series against New Zealand, as India fielded a three pronged spin attack on dusty tracks, taking six wickets at an average of 32.66.
Bhajji International exile
Bhajji toured Australia in 1999–2000, as the second spinner. He did not play in the Tests, with India opting to field only Jumbo in the team. Upon returning to India in early 2000 for the latter stages of the season, Bhajji was again unable to find a position in the Indian team, as Murali Kartik became Jumbo's spinning partner. 
In 2000-01 Season Despite Jumbo (Anil Kumble) being injured, Bhajji was again overlooked as Kartik, Sunil Joshi, and debutant Sarandeep Singh were entrusted with the spin bowling duties in Test matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe on the subcontinent. Having made little success in this phase of his international career, averaging 37.75 per wicket, and overlooked by selectors, Bhajji faced a difficult decision. His father had recently died; as the family's only son, Harbhajan was now obliged to support his mother and unmarried sisters. He contemplated quitting cricket and moving to the United States to drive trucks for a living. After being out of the team for more than 12 months, there was little indication of the sudden rise that would occur in his cricketing career only a few months later.
Bhajji Rise in International Cricket
With Jumbo injured before the home series in March 2001 against the visiting Aussie, Bhajji, whose previous best Test figures were only 3/30, was the only capped spinner in the Indian team for the First Test. He was to lead the spin attack against an Aussie team which had set a world record with 15 consecutive Test victories, and was searching for its first ever series victory on Indian soil since 1969. Bhajji started well in the First Test in Mumbai, taking three quick wickets in a spell of 3/8, to reduce Australia to 99/5 in response to India's first innings of 176. It was still Harbhajan's best statistical analysis at Test level, as Aussie proceeded to a crushing 10-wicket victory, their sixteenth consecutive Test victory in succession. 
With leading paceman Srinath ruled out of the series with a finger injury during the First Test, the teams met for the Second Test in Kolkata, with an even bigger burden on Bhajji. Public opinion was sceptical about India's chances of stopping Australia's winning streak, with former captain and left arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi lamenting the demise of Indian cricket. Aussie were again in control on the first day, having scored 193/1, with Hayden having struck Bhajji out of the attack. Harbhajan fought back to reduce Australia to 252/7, taking five wickets in the final session, including Ricky Ponting, Gilchrist and Shane Warne in successive balls to become the first Indian to claim a Test hat-trick. Bhajji eventually finished with 7/123 as Australia were bowled out for 445. India batted poorly and were forced to follow-on, but a 376-run partnership between Very Very Special Laxman and Rahul Dravid the wall, who batted together for an entire day, allowed India to set Aussie an imposing target of 384 to win on the final day. Aussie appeared to be safely batting out the match for a draw, until losing 7/56 in the final session, collapsing from 166/3 to be bowled out for 212. Bhajji claimed four of the wickets, to finish with 6/73 for the innings and a match tally of 13/196. India ended Australia's 16-match world record winning streak, and became only the third team to win a Test after being forced to follow on (Team Australia having lost all three of those matches).
The teams arrived in Chennai for the deciding Third Test, and Aussie's batsmen again seized control after winning the toss, reaching 340/3 on the second morning. Then, Australian captain Steve Waugh padded away a delivery from Harbhajan. The ball spun back into Waugh's stumps, who pushed the ball away with his glove, becoming only the sixth batsman in Tests to be given out "handled the ball". Steve Waugh's dismissal instigated another Australian batting collapse, losing 6 wickets for 51 runs to be bowled out for 391, with Harbhajan taking all six in a spell of 6/26, to finish with 7/133. After India's batsmen gained a first-innings lead of 110, the Australian batsmen were again unable to cope with Harbhajan in the second innings, who took 8/84 to end with match figures of 15/217. India appeared to be heading for an easy victory at 101/2 chasing 155, before losing 6/50 to be 151/8. Bhajji walked to the crease, and struck the winning runs. 
Bhajji was named man of the match and man of the series, having taken 32 wickets at 17.03 for the series, when none of his team-mates managed more than three.The Wisden 100 study conducted by Wisden in 2002 rated all four of Bhajji's efforts in the Second and Third Tests in the top 100 bowling performances of all time, the most for any bowler. He paid tribute to his father, who had died just six months earlier. His performance led to him usurping Jumbo's position as India's first-choice spinner.
Bhajji style of playing
Bhajji is an attacking-minded bowler who is regarded for his ball control and ability to vary his length and pace, although he is often criticised for his flat trajectory. His main wicket-taking ball climbs wickedly on the unsuspecting batsman from a good length, forcing him to alter his stroke at the last second.
Bhajji has recorded a few half-centuries at Test level, his batting average hovers around 15 in both Tests and ODIs. However, in the span of four years starting from 2003, he has shown improved performance, averaging around 20 with the bat. His style is frequently described as being unorthodox, with pundits agreeing with his self-assessment attributing his batting achievements to his hand-eye coordination, rather than his footwork or technique.
Bhajji Later career 
Bhajji's Test success saw him recalled to the ODI team after more than two years. He was unable to reproduce his Test form against Aussie, managing only four wickets at an average of 59.25, and a cameo batting performance of 46 runs from 34 balls, including three sixes. He was dropped from the ODI team during a subsequent triangular tournament in Zimbabwe in 2001 after only managing two wickets at 69.00. Bhajji was also unable to maintain his form in the Test series, taking eight wickets at 29.12 in the series against Zimbabwe, but did manage to post his first Test half-century, reaching 66 in the First Test in Bulawayo. The Indians subsequently toured Sri Lanka in mid-2001, enjoying spinning wickets similar to those in India. Bhajji managed to establish himself in the ODI team with eleven wickets at 21.18, but his Test form deteriorated further, yielding only four wickets at 73.00. Turbanator was omitted from the Indian team in favour of Jumbo on the following tour of South Africa, only playing in the later matches when India fielded two spinners. Nevertheless, Turbanator continued to average 20.44 in the ODI format, winning his first man of the match award in the ODI form in an ODI against South Africa in Bloemfontein. His disciplinary problems continued when he was one of four Indian players fined and given a suspended one match suspension for dissent and attempting to intimidate the umpire by over-appealing. 
Turbanator's Test fortunes improved immediately upon the start of the 2001–02 international season in India. Playing in his first international match at his home ground in Mohali, Punjab, Harbhajan took match figures of 7/110, including 5/51 in the first innings, to help India win the First Test by ten wickets against the touring English team. He continued his steady form throughout the series with another five wicket haul in the Second Test in Ahmedabad, to end with thirteen wickets at 24.53 for the series. Turbanator's good form persisted in the matches against Zimbabwe, taking twelve wickets at 19.66. His 2/70 and 6/62 in the second Test in Delhi saw him named man of the match in a Test for the second time in his career. As in the first instance, he hit the winning runs, a straight-driven six.[54] He also performed strongly in the ODIs during the Indian season, taking twenty wickets at 19.75 in ten matches and taking his first five wicket haul in ODIs. 
Bhajji's overseas difficulties returned during the tour of the West Indies in mid-2002. He injured his shoulder while fielding in a tour match, and was forced to miss the First Test in Guyana. After taking only six wickets at 38 upon his return to the team for the Second Test, he was dropped for the Fourth Test, but was recalled again for the Fifth Test at Sabina Park, after Kumble was injured. Despite taking improved figures of 8/180, Harbhajan was unable to prevent an Indian defeat. He claimed three wickets in the three match ODI series at 33.00. Despite his performance at Sabina Park, Harbhajan was dropped again when Jumbo returned for the First Test on the tour to England at Lord's. India's coach John Wright later admitted that this had been a mistake. Turbanator returned for the final three Tests with moderate success, taking 12 wickets at 34.16, as well as managing his second Test half-century of 54 at Trent Bridge in the Second Test. The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka at the end of the tour brought moderate results with six wickets at 30.66, and a best of 3/27 in the washed out final against the host nation.
As was the case in the previous season, Harbhajan's return to Indian soil coincided with an improvement in results. He took 8/85 in an innings victory at Mumbai in the First Test against the West Indies, and then contributed match figures of 7/135 and 37 in an eight wicket victory in Chennai which saw him named man of the match. A haul of 5/115 in the Third Test at Calcutta was the best in a high scoring match, and with 20 wickets at 16.75, Harbhajan was named as the man of the series. He was unable to transfer his performances to the ODI format, taking only six wickets at 50.16 against the same team. Bhajji took only five wickets in the subsequent Test tour to New Zealand, in a series where five pace bowlers averaged less than 20 on seaming tracks.
Harbhajan had a mixed tournament at the 2003 Cricket World Cup, taking 11 wickets at 30.45. He was the first-choice spinner and played in all matches but one, being dropped against arch-rivals Pakistan. His rival, Kumble, played in only three matches. Turbanator was the only Indian bowler to take a wicket in the defeat to Australia in the final, taking 2/49. He was the fourth leading wicket taker for India overall and his tournament bowling average was worse than those of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath. He finished the season with six wickets at 14.00 in an ODI tournament in Bangladesh, where he was fined for abusing an umpire.
Bhajji's career hit by finger injury 
After experiencing pains in his spinning finger during the World Cup, Harbhajan was scheduled to undergo surgery in mid-2003 in Australia, but the surgery was delayed as he sought to play through the pain. He underwent physiotherapy in lieu of surgery and was declared fit for a two-match Test series against New Zealand in late 2003. His performance was substantially worse than his previous displays on Indian soil, taking only six wickets at an average of 50. Aside from his debut series, it was his worst series bowling average on Indian soil. Despite an ODI series in which he managed only four wickets at 40.5, the Indian team attempted to manage his injury rather than have his finger operated on, and took him on the 2003–04 tour of Australia. After an ineffective 1/169 in the First Test at Brisbane, his injury deteriorated and he underwent major finger surgery late in 2003. Jumbo replaced him and took 24 wickets in the remaining three Tests. Kumble bowled India to victory in the following Test against Pakistan in Multan, taking 6/71 to reclaim his position as the No.1 spinner.
Bhajji career after fingre injury
After a seven-month layoff, Bhajji returned to represent India in ODIs in the Asia Cup in July 2004, where he took four wickets at 39.75 in four matches. His performance improved on the tour to England for an ODI series against England and the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, taking eight wickets at 14 and hitting as an unbeaten 41 against England at The Oval.
Harbhajan made his Test return against Australia, who were again seeking their first series win on Indian soil since 1969 in the late 2004 home series. Harbhajan took 5/146 in the first innings and 6/78 in the second innings in addition to making a run out to reduce Australia from 103/3 to 228 all out. Despite this, India required 457 in their second innings to win, slumping to 125/8 before Harbhajan (42) and Irfan Pathan helped India to reach 239, still a 217-run loss. Harbhajan was less effective in the drawn Second Test in Chennai, with match figures of 5/198, and withdrew from the Third Test in Nagpur due to illness. Australia won the match, clinching the series. Harbhajan returned for the final Test. After failing to take a wicket in the first innings, he claimed 5/29 in the second to help India bowl Australia out for 93 and claim a dramatic 14 run victory. Harbhajan ended the series with 21 wickets at 24. 
A Test series in India against South Africa followed, with Turbanator taking match figures of 4/166 in the First Test in Kanpur, before producing a man of the match performance in the Second Test in Calcutta to lead India to a 1–0 series win. After taking 2/54 in the first innings, he took 6/78 in the second, including South Africa's first five batsman to set up a successful run-chase of 117. Bhajji was the leading wicket-taker for the series, with 13 at an average of 23.61. He ended 2004 with a quiet tour of Bangladesh, scoring a 47 and taking four wickets at 41.75 in two Tests and one wicket at 94 in two ODIs. He had a relatively light workload, bowling only 47.4 overs, as Irfan Pathan frequently scythed through the Bangladeshi batsmen with the new ball, taking three five wicket hauls.
His performance in Bangladesh saw him dropped for the First Test in the early 2005 series against Pakistan on his home ground in Mohali, with Kumble being the only spinner selected on the pace-friendly surface. He was recalled for the Second Test in Calcutta and took match figures of 4/145 in an Indian victory. Despite taking 6/152 in a marathon 51-over spell in the first innings of the Third Test in Bangalore, Pakistan won the match to level the series. He finished the series with 10 wickets at 33.2. His performance in the subsequent ODI series was even worse, managing only three wickets at 73.66 in five matches. In spite of the poor end to the season, his performance in the year since finger surgery saw him nominated for the 2005 ICC Test Player of the Year. Harbhajan spent the international off-season playing for Surrey in English county cricket, citing the improvement that other international players had gained from such an experience. It was his first stint in county cricket, after a planned season at Lancashire in 2003 was cancelled due to injury.
Bhajji out of the team 
During the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Harbhajan started as India's first-choice spinner and played in their first match against Bangladesh. India lost the match, and was dropped for the second match against Bermuda. Harbhajan was recalled for the final group match against Sri Lanka. India lost the match and were eliminated in the group phase. Following the failed campaign, the Indian selectors made multiple changes to the national team and Bhajji was dropped for the tours of Bangladesh and England. Rajesh Pawar, Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar were the spinners selected to partner Kumble. Harbhajan's waning wicket-taking and his lack of flight were again perceived to be the cause of his problems.
Comeback of Bhajji in International Cricket 
Harbhajan returned to international cricket as part of India's squad for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa in September 2007, which India won. Harbhajan was recalled to the ODI squad during India's home season in 2006–07, which comprised series against Pakistan and Australia. In ten ODIs, he took seven wickets at 61.72, much higher than his career average. He was then recalled to the Test squad, and with India fielding two spinners in its home series against Pakistan, Harbhajan accompanied Kumble in all three Tests. Playing in Tests for the first time in over a year, he took 10 wickets at 44.10, much higher than his career average in India. His best result was 5/122 in the first innings of the Second Test at Eden Gardens. He toured Australia and played in three of the four Tests—India persisted with two spinners in all venues except for the Third Test at the WACA Ground. Harbhajan was ineffective with the ball. In the First Test in Melbourne, he took match figures of 3/162, before taking 4/200 in the Second Test in Sydney. Upon his recall in Adelaide, he took 1/128 in Australia's only innings, ending the series with eight wickets at 61.25. However, he did manage to take Ponting's wicket for three consecutive innings, leading to much speculation about the Australian captain's difficulties against Harbhajan. After the third dismissal in the Sydney Test, Harbhajan celebrated by running a distance before twice rolling over on the ground. Harbhajan's most noted contribution with the bat came in the Second Test when he came to the crease with India at 345/7, still 118 runs behind Australia, after a middle-order collapse of 4/52. He made 63 runs in a 129-run partnership with Tendulkar, which enabled India to gain a first-innings lead. In the Fourth Test, he came to the crease at 7/359 and scored 63 in a 107-run rearguard partnership with captain Kumble, allowing India to reach 529. He failed to reach double figures in his four other innings and ended with 142 runs at 23.66.
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