Harbhajan Singh, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni
Harbhajan Singh, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni. (Photo: Twitter)

Veteran Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh who announced his retirement on Friday has said that the former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly handheld him when he was ‘No One’ and when he played under former captain MS Dhoni he had already become ‘Someone’.

Harbhajan Singh had an enormously successful career in cricket. In his illustrious career that spanned over 23 years, Harbhajan played 103 Tests 236 One Day Internationals and 28 T20 Internationals and bagged 417, 269 and 25 wickets.

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Meanwhile, he played 118 international games under Ganguly and bagged 273 wickets and 133 games under Dhoni and won the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup and was able to pick 229 wickets.

Speaking to Press Trust of India on Friday. Harbhajan said that the BCCI president and former captain Ganguly was aware of his skills but didn’t know whether he will deliver a good performance. However, the veteran off-spinner feels that Dhoni always knew that he can deliver a match-winning performance. Harbhajan Singh elaborated:

“It’s a simple answer for me. Sourav Ganguly handheld me at that juncture of my career when I was a ‘No One’. But when Dhoni became the captain, I was a “Someone”. So you need to understand the big difference, Dada (Ganguly) knew I had skills but didn’t know whether I will deliver. In the case of Dhoni, he knew that I have been there and done that. He knew that I have won matches before him and will win a few for him also.”

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The 41-year-old off-spinner further paid rich tribute to Ganguly and said that he wouldn’t have achieved success in his career if Ganguly hadn’t fought for him in his early days. Also, he lauded Dhoni and said that they had fought some great battles together. He elaborated:

“In life and in any profession, you need that one person, who will guide you at the proper moment and Sourav was that man for me. If Sourav hadn’t fought for me and got me in the team, who knows, today you might not be taking this interview of mine. Sourav is the leader who made me what I am. But yes, Dhoni certainly was a very good captain and he carried the legacy of Sourav and with Dhoni, together we fought some great battles that I will certainly cherish.”

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah (Image Credit: Twitter)

Harbhajan who ended his career with 711 international wickets also revealed that he spoke to the BCCI president, BCCI secretary and Mumbai Indians owner Akash Ambani before making his retirement announcement. He asserted:

Well, I spoke to the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, the man who made me the player I became. I told him about my decision. I also spoke to BCCI secretary Jay Shah and informed him about my decision. Both were very welcoming and wished me well. In my journey, BCCI had played a big role and I am indebted to them. I spoke to Mumbai Indians owner Akash Ambani as the franchise had a big role in my life.”

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Sonanchal Gautam is the Assistant Content Manager at Cricketaddictor. He is a professional Wrestling and Hip-hop enthusiast.