Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, renowned for his fiery on-field persona and stellar cricketing record, has offered a rare glimpse into his personal life, admitting with candour the impact of professional frustration on his family.

Speaking on the ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’ podcast hosted by fellow cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, the legendary spinner acknowledged regret over his past behavior, particularly toward his wife, actress Geeta Basra, and other family members.

Harbhajan Singh shares emotional confession

Harbhajan, who played 365 matches for India and claimed over 700 international wickets, disclosed that cricketing setbacks would often spill over into his home, affecting those closest to him. “Sports should be played like sports and it should not be everything in our life,” he reflected. “I used to have fights with my wife when things did not go my way on the field or off it. You bring that mood back home. That anger seeps through in our daily conversations at home. What wrong did they do?” the 45-year-old asked, suggesting that his inability to separate personal and professional life led to moments he now regrets.

He further confessed, “If I look back, there were so many times when I had a bad tour and I did not talk to my family properly after coming back. I regret those moments. That time is gone and I made a mess of it. When my sister came to see me, I didn’t talk to her.”

Harbhajan warned against letting the pressures of professional sport consume one’s personal happiness, urging younger athletes to focus on finding balance. “Sports should never be considered the be-all and end-all of life. It’s important to draw healthy boundaries between work and family,” he counselled. These admissions come as a significant departure from the image often associated with elite athletes.

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“That time is gone, and I made a mess of it”: Harbhajan

The cricketer, now a Member of Parliament and popular commentator, also credited his wife Geeta for helping him in understanding the value of communication and emotional intelligence within the family sphere. The couple, who married in 2015, are parents to two children.

Harbhajan’s public introspection has sparked conversation about the mental health struggles faced by sports professionals and the often overlooked impact on families.

The cricketer-turned-commentator emphasized that time lost in anger and misunderstandings with family can never be regained. He urged peers and fans to value their loved ones, suggesting that professional success means little without harmony at home. “That time is gone, and I made a mess of it,” he reiterated. “But if my story can help others avoid similar mistakes, it is worth sharing.”

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