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Harbhajan Singh Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career

By Harshil Raval | Sat May 02 2026
4.4
(26 votes)
Harbhajan Singh Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
4.4
(26)

He was an Indian cricketer. He played cricket from 1998 to 2016. People call him ‘Bhajji’. He has played many important games for India. He married an Indian film. Harbhajan played cricket in all formats. He played league, T20, international Test and One Day cricket. He was a spin bowler who performed well in all formats of cricket. After retiring from the police, he joined politics and was a member of the state representative cricket team. Now, he is doing cricket commentary. He is the commentator of IPL. His cricketing skills need no explanation; his name is enough for introduction.

Early life and biography

Harbhajan Singh was born into a Punjabi family. He was born on 3 July 1980. His birthplace is Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He played as an off-spin bowler for India from 1998 to 2016. His impressive bowling was a challenge for batsmen to survive. His father was Sardar Sardev Singh Plaha, who was a freedom fighter. He owned a bowling alley and a wool factory. He did not do his father’s business. His interest in cricket was encouraged by his father. He started playing for Punjab in local esteem. Coach Charanjit Singh Bhullar trained him as a batsman. Later, after watching his death bowling, coach Davinder Aro replied that he was speaking clearly.

He has presented the best competitors of Australian cricket as evidence. Harbhajan has five sons. After his father’s death in 2000, he arranged three small weddings for them and denied his own marriage until 2008. Many people questioned his inclusion in the Indian international team. He married his long-time girlfriend Sadhu Basra on 29 October 2015 in Jalandhar. He also mentions the Indian film industry. Out of them, he has two children, a boy and a girl. His elder brother was born on 27 July 2016 and his father was born on 10 July 2021. He has struggled against many difficulties and has left his mark in cricket. He is now making his mark in cricket commentary, politics and the entertainment industry.

Biographical details

Category Details
Full Name Harbhajan Singh Plaha
Nickname Bhajji, Turbanator
Date of Birth 3 July 1980
Age (as of 2026) 45 Years
Birthplace Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Nationality Indian
Religion Sikhism
Profession Cricketer (Former), Commentator
Role in Team Bowler
Batting Style Right-handed
Bowling Style Right-arm Off-break
Early Interest Started as batsman, later became spinner
Coach/Mentor Charanjit Singh Bhullar
Family Background Belonged to a middle-class family; father was a businessman
Major Struggle Became family’s main support after father’s death
Domestic Debut 1997 (Punjab team)
International Debut (Test) 1998 vs Australia
ODI Debut 1998
T20I Debut 2006
Breakthrough Moment Hat-trick in 2001 at Eden Gardens during Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Career Peak Early–mid 2000s as India’s leading spinner
Major Achievements Part of 2007 ICC World Twenty20 & 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup winning teams
IPL Teams Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders
Playing Style Aggressive off-spinner with sharp turn & bounce
Strengths Wicket-taking ability, mental toughness, match-winner
Controversies “Monkeygate” incident (2008)
Marital Status Married
Spouse Geeta Basra
Children 2
Retirement 2021 (All formats)
Post-Retirement Role Commentator, analyst, public figure
Net Worth (Approx.) ₹80–100 Crore
Legacy One of India’s greatest off-spinners

Domestic and International Career

He plays for the Punjab team in first-class cricket. He plays many matches at the domestic level. In 2001, he made his international debut in a Test match. Here he played for India against Australia. The Punjab government recognized his performance. They offered him ₹5 lakh ($5,900), a plot of land and an offer to become the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Punjab. He did not accept the police post and continued to play cricket.

People outside India called him “The Turbanator”, because he wore a turban and had the ability to stop the innings of the opposing team. He gained recognition worldwide in world cricket. He played 103 Test matches and took a total of 415 wickets. In One Day Internationals, he played 236 matches and took 269 wickets. Again, in T20Is, he played a total of 28 matches in which he took 25 wickets. His debut in the IPL is a big game changer for his net worth. He started playing IPL from its inaugural season in 2008. He played till 2021.

Career statistics

Category Test ODI T20I First-Class (FC)
Matches 103 236 28 198
Runs Scored 2,224 1,237 108 4,255
Batting Average 18.23 13.30 13.50 19.16
100s / 50s 2 / 9 0 / 0 0 / 0 2 / 15
Top Score 115 49 21 115
Balls Bowled 28,580 12,479 612 48,055
Wickets 417 269 25 780
Bowling Average 32.46 33.35 25.32 29.04
5 Wickets (Innings) 25 3 0 41
10 Wickets (Match) 5 0 0 8
Best Bowling 8/84 5/31 4/12 8/84
Catches / Stumpings 42 / – 71 / – 7 / – 100 / –

Bowling stats

Format Matches Balls Bowled Wickets Bowling Average Best Bowling 5W (Innings) 10W (Match)
Test 103 28,580 417 32.46 8/84 25 5
ODI 236 12,479 269 33.35 5/31 3 0
T20I 28 612 25 25.32 4/12 0 0
First-Class (FC) 198 48,055 780 29.04 8/84 41 8

Batting stats

Format Matches Runs Scored Batting Average 100s 50s Top Score
Test 103 2,224 18.23 2 9 115
ODI 236 1,237 13.30 0 0 49
T20I 28 108 13.50 0 0 21
First-Class (FC) 198 4,255 19.16 2 15 115

Fielding stats

Format Matches Runs Scored Batting Average 100s 50s Top Score
Test 103 2,224 18.23 2 9 115
ODI 236 1,237 13.30 0 0 49
T20I 28 108 13.50 0 0 21
First-Class (FC) 198 4,255 19.16 2 15 115

Playing Strengths

Bhajji specializes in off-spin bowling. He is a lower-order batsman. Primarily, he is a bowler whose lethal bowling makes it difficult for batsmen to survive for long periods. He is most successful in middle-over bowling. He has an aggressive approach and an aggressive mindset while bowling. His wicket-taking ability has made him an aggressive bowler. He has taken 417 wickets in Test matches. He is considered one of the top spinners in India.

IPL Career

Harbhajan joined the inaugural season of the IPL. He has played a total of 163 IPL matches. He has taken 150 wickets in IPL matches. He bowls at an average of 26.4. His best bowling in the IPL was 5 wickets in 18 balls. He played for Mumbai Indians in his inaugural season and continued to play for them until 2017. He started playing for Chennai Super Kings from 2018 to 2020. Later, Kolkata Knight Riders signed him in 2021, and he played for them.

Years Team Role
2008–2017 Mumbai Indians Bowler, Captain (early seasons)
2018–2020 Chennai Super Kings Senior Spinner
2021 Kolkata Knight Riders Squad Player

Records and Achievemen

  • He made a Test hat trick in 2001 while playing at Eden Garden for Border-Gavaskar trophy
  • He is highest wicket taker bowler for India in Test matches.
  • He played the two victorious matches of of Indian in 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
  • He played for Mumbai Indian and assisted team in wining the championship many times
  • He was awarded with Padma Shri (2009) one od the most prestigious award in India
  • He also received Arjuan Award in 2003
Matches Wickets Bowling Avg Economy Best Bowling 5W Hauls Runs Batting Avg Top Score Strike Rate
163 150 26.4 7.1 5/18 1 833 15.0 64 138

Net Worth and Earnings

His net worth is around 100 crores. His income comes mainly from IPL. He also earns from brand endorsements and commentary. Apart from that, he has real estate investments and personal ventures. His estimated annual income is around 5 crores. He is a well-known figure in cricket and media, and is also involved in the entertainment industry. He lives a luxurious life.

Category Details
Net Worth (2026) ₹80–100 Crore
Primary Income Sources Cricket (past), IPL, Commentary, Endorsements
Annual Income (Estimated) ₹5–8 Crore
IPL Earnings (Career Total) ₹60+ Crore
Commentary & Media Major ongoing income source
Brand Endorsements Multiple Indian brands over the years
Business/Investments Real estate & personal ventures

Read More: Manav Suthar Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career

Conclusion

Bhajji, also known as the Turabnetter, whose real name is Harbhajan Singh, is well-known in India and internationally. He is one of India’s top off-spinners. His aggressive middle-over bowling is dangerous for batsmen to survive. He can adapt his bowling style according to the situation. His net worth is 100 crores. He lives a luxurious life with his wife Geeta Basra. They have a daughter and a son. He played for India from 1998 to 2016. He has a long career in cricket. He played with Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and many other leading figures in cricket.

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Harshil Raval
Harshil Raval

Hello Friends! My name is Harshil Raval. I work as an SEO Lead at Cricbites.com. I have over 4 years of experience. I am very passionate about writing about sports, especially cricket. I try to write in very simple and clear terms so that everyone can understand, even young readers. I enjoy sharing interesting match stories, player news, and helpful cricket information for fans. Writing about cricket makes me happy, and I always try to make my articles interesting and easy to read. I hope you enjoy reading my stories. Thank you very much for your support!

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