New Delhi: India captain Virat Kohli and former cricketer VVS Laxman led the way in wishing India’s veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on his 41st birthday on Saturday.
Harbhajan currently plays for two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders after he was released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of last year’s auction. He last played for India in 2016.
“Happy birthday Bhajju Pa. God bless you with a good life and lots of happiness. @harbhajan_singh,” Virat Kohli tweeted.
Happy birthday Bhajju Pa.
God bless you with a good life and lots of happiness. ?@harbhajan_singh— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 3, 2021
Laxman also took to Twitter to wish him. “Wishing @harbhajan_singh a very Happy Birthday. May you experience depth of love and peak of happiness. Have a great day and a fabulous year ahead #HarbhajanSingh.”
Wishing @harbhajan_singh a very Happy Birthday. May you experience depth of love and peak of happiness. Have a great day and a fabulous year ahead #HarbhajanSingh pic.twitter.com/OGCo7LA5RF
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 3, 2021
A very Happy Birthday @harbhajan_singh. Have a great one! pic.twitter.com/qt9Cq4NFMT
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 3, 2021
Bhajji paaji, wishing you health and happiness in abundance on your special day. May the year ahead be a fantastic one! @harbhajan_singh #HappyBirthday
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) July 3, 2021
Wish you a very Happy Birthday @harbhajan_singh paaji ?? Stay Blessed
— Navdeep Saini (@navdeepsaini96) July 3, 2021
Happy Birthday to the man with magical fingers @harbhajan_singh. Nobody tells a Bhajji joke better than Bhajji himself! Hope you have a wonderful year with family and friends.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 3, 2021
Haste raho or Hasate raho @harbhajan_singh paaaji. Wishing you a very happy birthday ? #birthday pic.twitter.com/02NJ7gjwYR
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 3, 2021
To a champion spinner, match winner and a brilliant servant of Indian cricket. Happy birthday Bhajju Paa. Best wishes always ?? @harbhajan_singh pic.twitter.com/F20qgJeU5K
— Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) July 3, 2021
Happy birthday Bhajji paaji, mast raho, khush raho! Aur Lords pe Collingwood ko one handed six ?? hamein yaad rahega ?. Have a great one buddy, @harbhajan_singh !! pic.twitter.com/2aUXNLn2u9
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 3, 2021
He came in as a young off spinner with magical wrists, lovely flight & loop
He saw the game & learnt the trades. A memorable pair with @anilkumble1074 bhai
He conquered his art with 700+ scalps
Thank you for '01 ?? series, Bhajji#HBD @harbhajan_singh❤pic.twitter.com/9uUQVBqLBy
— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) July 3, 2021
Harbhajan is still the highest wicket-taking spinner among active cricketers in the world. He has 417 scalps in 103 Tests at an average of 32.46 with 269 ODI wickets and 25 T20I wickets to his name.
Harbhajan played a vital role in India’s World Cup-winning squads in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Kuldeep Yadav, BCCI, ICC were also quick to congratulate Harbhajan on this special occasion.
“2007 World T20 & 2011 World Cup-winner. 1st Indian to scalp a Test hat-trick. 367 intl. games, 711 intl. wickets & 3,569 intl. runs. Here’s wishing Harbhajan Singh — one of the finest to represent #TeamIndia — a very happy birthday,” wrote BCCI.
Harbhajan is set to fly to UAE later this year to take part in the remainder of IPL 2021 for KKR.