Published: Apr 25, 2017, 11:36 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 25, 2017, 11:36 AM (IST)
Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh on Monday became only the third Indian spinner ever to complete 200 wickets in T20 cricket. Harbhajan achieved the feat during the match No. 28 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017, between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday. Harbhajan is now the third Indian bowler after Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin to have taken these many wickets in T20 cricket. Harbhajan returned with the figures of 4-0-20-1 against Rising Pune Supergiant, claiming the key wicket of Steven Smith. Mumbai Indians, however, lost the clash by a narrow margin of 3 runs.
Harbhajan has taken his 200 wickets in T20 cricket in his 225th game. He has played T20 cricket for India, Mumbai Indians, North Zone, Punjab and Surrey. Mishra, who leads the chart as far as the Indian bowlers are concerned, has played a mere 176 matches to claim 208 wickets so far. On the other hand, India’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin — who is not playing the IPL due to an injury lay-off — has played 195 matches and claimed exactly 200 wickets in T20 cricket for various teams. In the IPL, Harbhajan has played only for Mumbai Indians in the last 10 editions and has represented them in 132 matches.
In the list of most wicket-taking bowlers in IPL, Harbhajan is at the third spot behind Lasith Malinga (147 wickets in 102 matches) as well as Mishra (131 wickets in 118 matches). Harbhajan has one five-wicket as well as a four-wicket haul to his credit in the T20 tournament.
