Harbhajan Singh retires from all formats of the game

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has announced his retirement from all formats of the game. 

In a video message on Twitter, the former India off-spinner said that "in many ways, I had already retired", but because of his commitments with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, he was forced to delay the announcement.

Harbhajan last turned out for India in March 2016, in a T20I against UAE in Dhaka in that year's Asia Cup.

Harbhajan, now 41, made his international debut back in March 1998, in a Test match against Australia in Bengaluru, picking up two wickets in an eight-wicket defeat. He went on to play 103 Tests, for a haul of 417 wickets - still the fourth-highest for India - at an average of 32.46, with an innings best of 8 for 84 and a match-best of 15 for 217, both recorded in India's two-wicket win over Australia in the Chennai Test of 2001, which gave them a 2-1 win in an iconic series. In the previous Test in Kolkata, made famous due to VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid's batting all day while following-on - Harbhajan had played a major role too in India's stunning come-from-behind win, bagging 13 wickets in the match.

Harbhajan also turned out in 236 ODIs from 1998 to 2015, taking 269 wickets at 33.35 and an economy rate of 4.31. He played 28 T20Is, taking 25 wickets at an average of 25.32 and an economy rate of 6.20. His overall tally of 707 international wickets is the second-highest for India, behind Anil Kumble's 953.

Espncricinfo