"Are You Pregnant?" - Harbhajan Singh Recalls Hilarious Sledging Incident With Aussie Darren Lehmann

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh played during a time when the Australians were at their peak – both in terms of cricket and their sledging game. Teams that traveled to Australia rarely got a warm welcome and the batters at the crease were sledged almost all the time.

In one such case, Harbhajan, known for his fierce nature on the field, didn’t back down and sledged former Australia cricketer and coach, Darren Lehmann. Listening to what Harbhajan had to say to Lehmann, even Shane Warne had a chuckle about the incident.

“Australians felt they were the biggest superstars, nobody can beat them, they always looked to dominate. But we were from a generation which was never docile. I come from Punjab and Punjabis by nature always speak their minds. I was batting and (Darren) Lehmann was continuously sledging me.“

“He had a huge stomach and his slack string used to hang out like Shakti Kapoor’s. I was so perturbed over his sledging that I pointed towards his abdomen and asked: ‘Are you pregnant?’ Lehmann told this to Shane Warne who burst out laughing. Warne asked me whether I said this…’ Well, players shouldn’t have such huge stomachs,” Harbhajan told on ‘Aap ki Adalat’.

“A time came when the Australians stopped sledging me” – Harbhajan Singh

Knowing that he won’t back down from any fight or an altercation, the Australians stopped trying to have a go at him, says Harbhajan Singh. Although he is a much more reserved person off the field, Harbhajan was very competitive on the field.

“(Glenn) McGrath sledged me a lot. He felt who’s this guy playing after I have dismissed top batsmen. I replied back. He used to sledge once, I replied thrice, he sledged twice, I replied five times. A time came when the Australians stopped sledging me,” Harbhajan added.

Harbhajan Singh announced his retirement on December 24, Friday, after 23 years in cricket. He played 103 Tests and 236 ODIs, taking 417 and 269 wickets respectively.

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