Top 5 spells of Harbhajan Singh against Australia in India

India and Australia will be locking horns with each other in a four-match Test series and the buzz has already taken center-stage. Over the past few decades, Indo-Aussie clashes have been electrifying, to say the least.

Several players have emerged during this phase, one of them is the legendary off-break bowler Harbhajan Singh. Albeit the Turbanator isn’t currently a part of the Indian setup, his contribution can’t be looked down on by any stretch of the imagination.

He relished having a crack at the Kangaroos and never shied away from expressing himself, be it with the ball in hand or with words. As we move along, we recollect five of the best spells by Bhajji against Australia in India.

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#5 7/123, Kolkata (1st innings) – 2001

Probably, it was the spell that not only broke the backbone of the Aussie batting line-up, but also injected inspiration in the Indian team to stage a comeback. Eden Gardens was enthralled to an opera of scintillating bowling by Harbhajan Singh, which’s afresh even after 16 years.

Australia had got India on the mat with Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer milking the Indian bowlers with ease. The Turbanator came to the Men in Blue’s rescue by snapping up the hulking Hayden, who was on the threshold of a century.

The best of Bhajji was yet to unfold and it started on the second ball of the 72^nd over when he scampered to become the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket. Ricky Ponting was trapped in front, going for a flick which was followed by a first ball duck for Adam Gilchrist.

The Indians went cock-a-hoop when Sadagopan Ramesh pulled off a beauty at short-leg to get rid of Shane Warne and give Bhajji his fifth wicket.

#4 6/73, Kolkata (2nd innings) - 2001

Even after a superlative show, India had every chance of losing the Test as they set the Kangaroos a target of 384 runs. Yet again, the Punjab off-break bowler wreaked havoc in the Australian batting line-up, this time with a six-wicket haul.

Australia took off on a positive note through an opening stand of 74 between Hayden and Michael Slater. Along with Justin Langer, Slater was constructing another healthy stand, but one more time Harbhajan dug India out of the pits.

From 106/1 in the 28^th over, the Kangaroos slumped to 212 all out, losing their final nine wickets for 106 runs and therefore slumped to a hefty defeat of 171 runs. With 13 wickets in the Test, the Turbanator turned the series on its head.

Riding on V.V.S Laxman’s 281, Rahul Dravid’s 179 and Harbhajan Singh’s scintillating display of spin bowling, India drew level in the series with one Test remaining.

#3 8/84, Chennai (2nd Innings) – 2001

Both teams had everything to play for in the third and final Test at Chennai with the series at 1-1. Australia, courtesy of Hayden’s double ton amassed 391 runs, which was followed by a mammoth total of 501 by India.

With Australia on the back foot, India required to tighten the screws and Harbhajan Singh played a major role in the demolition of the Aussie batting line-up. Not only was he frugal, but also churned out wickets in a hurry.

No Aussie batsman had the measure of him as he went on to pile up his best figures of 8/84 in Test cricket. Whenever a partnership seemed to blossom, the Turbanator put a halt to it. Australia was bowled out for 264 that presented India with a target of 155, which they eventually accomplished, though with a hiccup.

#2 7/133, Chennai (1st Innings) – 2001

Even in the first innings, Harbhajan dominated the wickets column and picked up seven batsmen with his wily loop and trajectory. Matthew Hayden’s free-flowing knock wasn’t enough to stop the off-spinner from showing an aggressive intent.

Bowling 38 overs out of 115, Bhajji shouldered the responsibility of running through the Aussie batsmen. Such was his hegemony that the last seven Australian batsmen fell down like nine pins for a mere 51 runs.

It was an era when even the best used to get bamboozled by Harbhajan’s variations that included the Doosra and the top-spinner. After the stupendous spell, it was India’s match to surrender, but they capitalised on the advantage and romped home to win the series by 2-1.

Harbhajan, deserving, was crowned the Man of the Series with 31 wickets in three Tests. It was a historic series that kept the audience glued to the match with every ball being an entertainment of its own.

#1 5/29, Mumbai (2nd Innings) – 2004

With the series already lost, India was up against Australia to salvage some pride from the fourth and final Test in Mumbai. The start wasn’t an auspicious one for the Indians as they crumbled to a total of 104 in their first innings.

The worst part was that Australia managed a lead of 99 runs in their innings to leave India in more than a spot of bother. Aided by half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, India set Australia a target of 107 to win the series by 3-0.

Harbhajan Singh went wicketless in the 1^st innings, but made up for it by snapping five Aussies at the cost of 29 runs. Riding on Bhajji’s brilliance India managed to bundle the Aussies out for 93 runs to take home a solitary victory.