'This guy destroyed us' - Steve Waugh’s candid confession after meeting Harbhajan Singh

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh recently reunited with former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and called him one of the toughest opponents his team faced. The former batter recalled that Harbhajan gave nightmares to Australia’s batting lineup during the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).

The 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains one of cricket’s most unforgettable contests. After being thrashed by 10 wickets in the opening Test at the Wankhede Stadium, India, led by Sourav Ganguly, made a remarkable turnaround to claim the series 2-1.

The comeback stunned Steve Waugh’s Australia, whose dominant winning streak was broken by an Indian team showcasing a mix of emerging talent and seasoned performers.

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Harbhajan Singh’s Heroics Helped India’s Iconic Test Triumph Over Australia

Sourav Ganguly played mind games with Australian captain Steve Waugh, repeatedly keeping him waiting at the toss to unsettle the opposition.

However, the real architect of India’s triumph was Harbhajan Singh, who delivered a career-defining performance with 32 wickets across three Tests. He took a sensational hat-trick in the Kolkata Test, helping India script a miraculous win after being forced to follow on.

Ricky Ponting endured a torrid time in the series, managing scores of 0, 6, 0, 0, and 11, and was dismissed by Harbhajan on all five occasions. Notably, Ponting averaged just 26.48 in 14 Tests in India, while his overall career average stood at 51.85.

Always Great to Catch Up With Old Adversaries - Steve Waugh on Harbhajan Singh

Steve Waugh recently shared a nostalgic moment on Instagram after meeting Harbhajan Singh. Waugh described the catch-up as a meeting with an “old adversary,” adding that Harbhajan had been highly impactful during that iconic series.

“Always great to catch up with old adversaries from the playing field. This guy single handedly destroyed us with the ball in the famous 2001 Border /Gavaskar series taking 32 wickets in 3 tests !! #who was the next best Indian bowler and how many wickets did he take,” Waugh wrote on Instagram.

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A post shared by Steve Waugh (@stevewaugh)

Harbhajan Singh Stunned the World by Dismantling Australia’s Batting Lineup

Australia entered the series with legends like Ricky Ponting, Steve and Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and Matthew Hayden. They were unstoppable and broke records on the field. The Aussies had a streak of 16 consecutive Test victories between August 1999 and February 2001.

However, Harbhajan Singh stunned the world by dismantling Australia’s batting lineup throughout the Test series. After taking 17 wickets in the first two matches, Harbhajan produced his best in the final Test, taking 15 wickets in the match to seal a historic series win for India.

The former spinner finished the series with 32 wickets, while the next best Indian bowlers, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, managed only three each. He bowled a staggering 178.3 overs, far more than anyone else in the series, with the next highest being Zaheer Khan at 55.4 overs.

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