In the 2001 home Test series against Australia, Harbhajan Singh was outstanding for the Sourav Ganguly-led Indian cricket squad.
The 2001 home Test series between the Indian cricket team and Australia was fiercely contested. VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Harbhajan Singh all contributed to India’s victory over Steve Waugh’s Australians, captained by Sourav Ganguly. Harbhajan took 32 wickets in the three-match Test series, making him the leading wicket-taker. After losing the first Test in Mumbai by 10 wickets, he was instrumental in India’s great comeback in the series. He had backed Harbhajan back then, and he paid back Ganguly’s confidence.
Asked if Sourav Ganguly would have supported Harbhajan Singh if he hadn’t, the legendary spinner replied: “Woh captain se hat date. That’s all. There are many reasons for this, but I believe it would have been impossible for him to win the series against Australia. If we had lost the series, Dada would not have been there. God must have sent Sourav Ganguly to hold my hand, because he said, “hold this kid’s hand.” It seemed as though he had my hand and I had God’s. I continued to work as usual. Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy was extended after he led India to victory in a major series “Harbhajan stated this in an interview with Sportskeeda Cricket.
According to Harbhajan, it is ultimately a player’s performance on the field that makes him great, not the captain’s support.
“No doubt about it, he was there for me. That is something I am constantly grateful for. However, it is your performance that makes your career unique. When Sourav Ganguly gave me a chance to succeed, I took it. I had a rough time during that time. Finally, the individual is responsible for how well he or she performs “Harbhajan made the comment.
Indians won the second Test in Kolkata despite being asked to follow on after losing the first Test in Mumbai. While Harbhajan claimed 13 wickets, Laxman and Dravid put up an innings to remember. Harbhajan collected 15 wickets in the Chennai Test. India beat Pakistan by two wickets in the encounter.
