Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh brought down curtains on his professional career last week. Harbhajan, who made his India debut in 1998, played 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 28 T20Is. A consistent member of the side for nearly two decades, Harbhajan lost his place in the team in 2011 and remained an irregular member for the next 5 years.

He only played 10 ODIs and 10 Tests after the 2011 World Cup. He wasn’t included in the squad for the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2015 World Cup.

Speaking to India TV, Harbhajan has revealed that he tried to ask former captain, MS Dhoni, the reason behind his absence but got no answers. Once he realised that there was no point in asking for replies, Harbhajan stopped asking the reason.

“I tried to ask the captain [Dhoni] why, but I wasn’t given a reason. I realized there is no point in me asking for the reason for this treatment, and who is behind it because if you keep asking and no one replies, then it’s better to leave it,” he has told India TV.

Harbhajan did make many comebacks across formats after 2011 but wasn’t a regular member in the final XI. His final stint with Team India came in 2016. Harbhajan was a member of the T20 World Cup that was played in India but remained on the bench. He was dropped from the team for the next series – against West Indies – and didn’t make a comeback.

Though he remained regular in IPL and also played domestic cricket for Punjab. He was a member of the Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021.

One of the most decorated players in the game, Harbhajan scalped 417 wickets in Tests and dismissed 269 batsmen in ODIs. He is likely to join the backroom staff of an IPL team before IPL 2022. He is also a part-time commentator and might make his comeback to the commentary box soon.