Ready for next innings of life, says Turbanator - Harbhajan Singh

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 24

As veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh (41) formally announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday, political circles in Punjab were abuzz with what could be his next move.

My 25-year-journey that started from the narrow lanes of Jalandhar to become the Turbanator for Team India has been a beautiful one. Donning the jersey of India and getting on the field gave me the biggest motivation of life. There are times when one has to move forward taking tough decisions. — Harbhajan Singh, Veteran Spinner, Indian cricket team

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Post his recent meeting with PPCC chief and cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu in Chandigarh, everyone’s guess is that he could be joining Congress and could be fielded from Nakodar seat in Jalandhar. But Bhajji denied any such plans, adding: “There isn’t anything to share at the moment.”

However, in the last few lines of his six-minute video, which he posted on his official YouTube channel on Friday, he is heard saying: “A new chapter with new challenges is set to start in my life now. Believe me, your Turbanator is ready for this exam. Just continue pouring your love on me.” It is these last words in the video and his timing to retire just ahead of the Assembly poll that has made everyone speculate if his next innings could be politics.

The country’s fourth-highest wicket taker started the video referring to his home in Jalandhar. He starts with salutation, “Sat Sri Akal, dosto” and then goes on in Hindi: “My 25-year-journey that started from the narrow lanes of Jalandhar to become the Turbanator for Team India has been a beautiful one. Donning the jersey of India and getting on the field gave me the biggest motivation of life. There are times when one has to move forward taking tough decisions.” Then he announces his retirement from all forms of cricket.

He tweeted this video link with his words: “All good things come to an end and today as I bid adieu to the game that has given me everything in life, I would like to thank everyone who made this long journey beautiful and memorable.” He had a long list of people, including his family, to acknowledge, in which he even mentioned about the Punjab Cricket Association.

Meanwhile, Bhajji is set to visit Burlton Park on Saturday afternoon. The park has a stadium, where from he had started his cricketing career.