Former
India cricketer Harbhajan Singh tested positive for COVID-19. The cricketer
took to micro-blogging site Twitter on Friday to reveal that he contracted the
virus. Harbhajan is currently in Oman playing Legends League Cricket in Muscat.

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Harbhajan,
who announced retirement from all forms of cricket last month, said that he had
mild symptoms, and now as he tested positive he has quarantined himself at home
and is “taking precautions”. 

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“I’ve
tested positive for COVID with mild symptoms. I have quarantined myself at home
and taking all the necessary precautions. I would request those who came in
contact with me to get themselves tested at the earliest. Please be safe and
take care,” Harbhajan Singh wrote on Twitter.

Harbhajan
made his arrival in international cricket during the historic 2001 home Test
series against Australia. The off-spinner emerged as India’s biggest asset
against the haughty Aussies. He finished the series with 32 wickets in three
Tests, including a hat-trick which was the first by an Indian. His victims were
legendry Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne at the Eden Gardens.

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With
this remarkable performance against an invincible Australian side, Harbhajan
cemented his place in the Indian team. This was during a time when Anil Kumble
was at the peak of his form and in the coming years, Harbhajan formed a lethal
spin duo with his senior partner, at times he even outshone the veteran.

Due
to his better attacking prowess with the bat and arguably better limited-overs
approach, Harbhajan soon overtook Kumble in ODIs as the lead spinner of the
side. In Tests though, Kumble still was the main man although he did have to
fight a battle of his own. Once Kumble retired, the onus was on Harbhajan to
carry the flag of spin bowling forward in the Indian team. He did have his
moments, not only at home where he was a strike force obviously but also played
a good role in some of India’s famous overseas Test wins.

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Statistically,
he is India’s second most successful off-spinner in Test cricket but he could
have achieved a lot more in the latter half of his career. Even though he
wasn’t at his best, he played a pivotal role in India’s 2011 World Cup glory.
The 2010 and 2011 seasons were really torrid for Harbhajan and the emergence of
Ravichandran Ashwin meant that the former’s position was soon slipping away.

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Harbhajan
Singh played 103 Tests and took 417 wickets at an average of 32.46. His tally
was recently eclipsed by Ashwin during the New Zealand series. In ODIs,
Harbhajan took 269 wickets in 236 matches. In 28 T20Is, he could manage only 25
wickets.