Members of the Indian cricket team, including Test captain Virat Kohli and head coach Rahul Dravid, congratulated Harbhajan Singh on the off-spinner’s retirement. Speaking to the BCCI during a training session in Centurion on Friday, the India stars washed the best for their former teammate who brought down the curtains on his 23-year-long international career.

Harbhajan ended his glittering career as the fourth-highest wicket-taker from India in Tests with 417 wickets and fifth among Indian bowlers in ODIs with 269 scalps. Harbhajan played a key role in the historic Kolkata Test in 2001, wherein he picked up a match haul of 13 wickets and became the first-ever Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick.

He played a key role in helping India win the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and was later instrumental in India becoming the first team to win a World Cup at home in 2011.

Harbhajan’s evolution into one of India’s leading spinners coincided with Rahul Dravid’s rise as one of the country’s finest batters. Harbhajan also played under Dravid’s captaincy between 2001 and 2007, becoming a key part of India’s bowling attack throughout the 2000s.

In the late 2000s, Harbhajan was already a senior figure in the team. Harbhajan also shared the dressing room with Virat Kohli and also went on to play 2 Test matches under the latter’s captaincy in 2015.

Bhajju pa, big congratulations: Kohli

Shedding light on the support he received from Harbhajan during his initial days with the senior national team, Kohli said: “Bhajju pa, a big congratulations for a wonderful career. 711 international wickets is no mean feat.

“I think you can be very proud of that achievement. It’s a blessing to be able to represent your country but to play for that long and take so many wickets is a whole different level altogether. All the best to you in whatever you do next in life. I hope you are blessed with happiness and peace and a lot of joy with your family.

“I have cherished all the moments that we have played together for India and the way you guided me when I came into the team. You really backed me to the hilt. And we share a very good friendship off the field. God bless you, take care,” Kohli added.

A legend and one of the finest to have ever played the game! #TeamIndia congratulate @harbhajan_singh on a glorious career @imVkohli | @cheteshwar1 pic.twitter.com/iefNrA4r2M

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 24, 2021

Bhajji is a great team man: Rahul Dravid

Heaping praise on Harbhajan’s ability to fight back from setbacks, Dravid said: “A big congratulations to Bhajji on his absolutely phenomenal career. I remember seeing him as a young 18-year-old in Mohali. And just looking at him, you knew he was a good talent. But from being a good talent to what he has gone on to achieve in the last 23 years has been absolutely phenomenal.

“He had his share of ups and downs, he has had his challenges but he has always come out smiling and always come out fighting. A great competitor and a great team man, someone whom you always wanted to go to battle with. He is a great fighter.

“He is one of those greatest performers for India. To be able to take over 400 wickets and to be a great partner to Anil Kumble and to be part of so many of our great victories, it’s been a pleasure and privilege to have played with him,” Dravid said.

India have been preparing for the first Test of a 3-match series against South Africa, starting December 26 in Centurion. It will be the first overseas assignment for the new captain-coach combination of Kohli and Dravid.