As Harbhajan Singh called it a day of a 23-year long career, he has promised to reveal his side of the story on the most controversial chapter of his career i.e. Monkeygate. The ace spinner never spoke about it openly but he promised that he would reveal the truth in his upcoming autobiography.
On the final day of the Sydney Test in 2008, Australian captain Ricky Ponting complained to the umpires that Harbhajan Singh racially abused Andrew Symonds by calling him ‘Monkey’.The matter went into the courtroom.
“It was something that was uncalled for. Whatever happened during that day in Sydney shouldn’t have happened and also what it led to. It was really unnecessary. But forget about who said what. You and I both know the truth has two sides,” Harbhajan Singh told PTI.
“No one cared about my side of the truth in the whole episode. No one cared what I went through in those few weeks and how I was mentally sinking. I have never extensively given my side of the story but people will know about it in my upcoming autobiography. What I went through shouldn’t have happened to anyone,” he further added.
When asked about any regrets, Harbhajan said that nobody stood for him in tough times otherwise he would have served Indian cricket longer. Notable that an injury in England tour (2011) cut short his career as India moved on with R Ashwin in the next home series. Then Harbhajan got a chance in odd games here and there and slowly faded away.
“If at that point, if someone would have cared for me and in a broader sense, how Indian cricket handled its players, may be my career could have been different. But no regrets. Those who were decision makers did what they felt was right. So I have nothing to say. Yes, I was bitter back then but when I now look at things, no bitterness,” he said.
The off-spinner finished his career with 417 Test wickets, 269 ODI wickets, and 25 T20I wickets.
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