Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who is considered as one of India's all time spin greats has once again lauded cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on playing a major role in shaping up his career which saw him attain many a milestones. 'Bhajji' said that the advice given by Sachin early on in his career helped him focus on the game much more as than what he did at the begining of his career and

"During my starting days, Sachin told me after a net session that keep your focus on the game. From that day, I really started focusing on my game all the more and I soon made my India debut," Harbhajan, India's third highest Test wicket-taker, told former teammate and opener Aakash Chopra on his YouTube show AakashVani.

Harbhajan was the hero with the ball in his debut series against the mighty Australians at home series he picked up a staggering 32 wickets to help India beat Waugh-led Aussies and end their winning juggernaut in Test cricket. The series is best remembered for Sourav Ganguly's team miraculously clinching victory from the defeat of jaws against the mighty Aussies in the memorable Eden Gardens Test win.

"Winning against that Australian team was special. We learnt a lot from that series," Harbhajan said.

"As a player, I will rate 2001 series against Australia at the top spot as it made me the player I am today, if I look at my childhood dream, I always wanted to win the World Cup and it came true in 2011 so I will keep it at par with the 2001 series," Harbhajan said.

"Winning the T20 World Cup in 2007 was unbelievable, when we landed back in India, we got a huge amount of support, I have never seen anything like that before, I would not be able to rate these three moments as all are very special to me," he added.

The 39-year-old veteran off-spinner has so far played 103 Tests and 236 ODIs for India in which he has scalped 417 and 269 wickets respectively. Besides, he has alo played 28 T20Is in which he has picked 25 wickets. His last appearance for India came in a T20I game against UAE in 2016.