Did Harbhajan inspire generations with his birthday wishes for Zaheer?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Harbhajan Singh praises Zaheer Khan on his 47th birthday.
- Zaheer's cricketing career includes 92 Tests and 200 ODIs.
- The IPL slapgate controversy resurfaces with Harbhajan's remarks.
- Harbhajan emphasizes learning from past mistakes.
- Both players have inspired generations of cricketers.
New Delhi, Oct 7 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh extended heartfelt birthday greetings to his teammate and former left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who celebrated his 47th birthday on Tuesday. Harbhajan referred to him as ‘one of India’s premier fast bowlers.’
“Wishing a very happy birthday to one of India’s finest fast bowlers, @ImZaheer. Your remarkable talent, astute cricketing intellect, and composed demeanor both on and off the field have inspired countless players. May this year bless you with good health, joy, and ongoing success in all your endeavors. Enjoy a fantastic day with your family and friends,” Harbhajan posted on X.
Zaheer has represented India in 92 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 17 T20Is, capturing 311, 282, and 17 wickets in those formats respectively. His Test career boasts 11 five-wicket hauls, while he concluded his ODI career with a solitary five-wicket haul.
Recently, Zaheer joined IPL team Lucknow Super Giants in August 2024, taking over the spot vacated by Gautam Gambhir after IPL 2023 but departed from the team just one season later this September.
On another note, Harbhajan has recently commented on the IPL slapgate controversy, criticizing Lalit Modi for circulating an old video. An 18-year-old clip of Harbhajan slapping his former India teammate Sreesanth resurfaced online after Lalit shared it on social media.
Harbhajan condemned Lalit’s actions, suggesting that he may have been under the influence when he released the video, expressing confusion over the motive behind sharing it.
“Honestly, I didn’t understand why there was a need to make it public. I really don’t understand the motive behind that. I feel it would have been better if it hadn’t come out because there was no need for it. I don’t know what he was thinking when he released the video—maybe he was under the influence of alcohol or just messing around. If I were in their place, I wouldn’t have let any such video come out like that,” Harbhajan remarked to IANS.
“Everyone thinks differently. What happened was wrong, and I have already apologized for it. What transpired between me and Sreesanth back then was not appropriate. As a sportsman, I don’t believe I should have acted that way. People learn from their mistakes, and if I had more awareness at the time, I wouldn’t have done it,” he added.
vi/bc