Harbhajan Singh Plaha was born on July 3, 1980, in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He was initially interested in becoming a batsman but switched to off-spin bowling under the guidance of his coach, Davinder Arora.
Harbhajan made his first-class debut for Punjab in 1997-98. His impressive performances in domestic cricket soon earned him a spot in the national team.
Harbhajan made his Test debut against Australia on March 25, 1998, in Bangalore. He made his ODI debut earlier, on April 17, 1998, against New Zealand.
Harbhajan Singh gained international fame during the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he took 32 wickets in three Tests, including the first-ever hat-trick by an Indian in Test cricket.
Harbhajan was a key player for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 to 2017, winning three IPL titles. He later played for Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Harbhajan is among the leading wicket-takers in Indian cricket history, with over 400 Test wickets and more than 250 ODI wickets. He is known for his ability to bowl long spells and turn the ball sharply.
Harbhajan has been involved in several controversies, including the infamous "Monkeygate" incident with Andrew Symonds in 2008 and a physical altercation with Sreesanth during an IPL match in 2008.
Harbhajan has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2009. He was also named in the ICC Test Team of the Year multiple times.
Harbhajan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on December 24, 2021, ending a distinguished 23-year-long international career.
Harbhajan is married to actress Geeta Basra, and the couple has two children. Post-retirement, he has been active in commentary, acting, and various business ventures.