When Harbhajan Singh’s fiery send-off began a famous rivalry with Ricky Ponting | Cricket News – Times of India

It was the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup tri-series in Sharjah. Harbhajan Singh — a lean, thin-framed spinner — was playing his fourth ODI for India after having made his debut earlier in the tournament. The off-spinner, buoyed by his three-wickets in the previous match against Australia, was all fired up when Ricky Ponting arrived at the crease.
What happened next started one of the most famous face-offs in the India-Australia cricket rivalry, which saw batting legend Ricky Ponting becoming Harbhajan’s bunny in the years to come.
Batting first, Australia’s No. 3 Ponting arrived early on the crease as opener Adam Gilchrist was dismissed in the fourth over. Ponting took an aggressive approach while batting alongside Mark Waugh, which included hitting Harbhajan for a couple of boundaries.

But Harbhajan, who later in his career became famous as the ‘turbanator’, came out the winner in his battle with the Australian.
In the same over that Ponting hit Harbhajan for boundaries and raced to 31 off 25 balls, the young off-spinner had him stumped by wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia off the next delivery and then gave the Australian a fiery send-off.
But Ponting was not to be left behind as he barged his shoulder into Harbhajan while giving the Indian a mouthful.

As far as the match is concerned, the Australian went on to score 284 for 7, thanks to an unbeaten century by Michael Bevan (101*) and Mark Waugh’s 81.
But despite Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliant 143 off 131 balls, an innings that became famous by the name ‘desert storm’, India could only score 250 for 5 in a weather-shortened game, which revised the second innings to 46 overs and India’s target to 277.
Australia won by 26 runs.