Harbhajan Singh and his love affair with the Eden Gardens

Harbhajan Singh and his love affair with the Eden Gardens: The epic Eden Garden has played a pivotal role in the life of many cricketers. Be it VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid or Rohit Sharma.

The ground has also played an important part in the career of the ‘turbanator’, Harbhajan Singh Plaha.

The 2nd Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2000-01, played at Eden Gardens, remains etched in everyone’s memory for the heroics of VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) that enabled India to virtually snatch a 171-run victory.

However, this Test match is also as important to Bhajji, as Harbhajan is popularly known. Bhajji had a very impressive bowling performance. In the 1st innings he returned with a figure of 37.5-7-123-7 and that included a hat-trick. He had picked up the fifth, sixth and seventh wickets in the form of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne on successive deliveries while Australia’s score was 252 runs.

In the 2nd innings he had figures of 30.3-8-75-6. He ended the match with the bowling numbers that read, 68.2-15-198-13. And this specifically states that Bhajji also had a big role to play in the famous victory.

Of the 25 ‘five-wicket’ hauls in Tests, Bhajji has taken 6 of them at the Eden Gardens. Such has been his emotional connect with the Eden, hei  stated that as and when he would decide to quit, he would like to play his final Test match on the Eden Gardens turf. Harbhajan said, “I have not planned anything but yes, whenever I would think I would like to play my last game at the Eden. But that has got to be in a Test.”

“Eden is a very very special place. Playing cricket in Eden is always special. This is like coming home and playing cricket. If people say cricket in England is at Lord’s, then in India for me this is the best place to play cricket. I have got some great memories playing here and hopefully I can continue to do well here.”

“One thing we will be missing is Jagmohan Dalmiya Sir. He won’t be watching the game but I am sure he will be blessing us from somewhere.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the Vijay Hazare 2014 quarter final game between Punjab and Railways, Bhajji had said, “Whenever I have come to Eden, I have never returned empty-handed. It has always been very special and close to my heart. Whether I play for India, Mumbai Indians or any other team, the Eden has given me everything. It has been like another mom to me. Hope it will be special again for us.”

Harbhajan has picked up 417-Test wickets in 190 innings at an average of 32.4 and with an economy rate of 2.84. He also has 25 5-wicket hauls and has grabbed a 10-wicket haul 5 times in Tests. His innings best performance has been 8/84 v Australia with 15/217 being Harbhajan Singh’s best match performance that also came against Australia in the Chennai Test 2001.