Name Hindi: इरफ़ान पठान / Gender Man
About Irfan Pathan
Irfan Khan Pathan is a renowned former Indian cricketer who was born on 27th October, 1984 in Baroda, Gujarat. He majorly played as a left-arm fast-medium swing and seam bowler during his active career in cricket. His ability to swing the ball both ways along with reasonable control made him an essential player for the Indian cricket team.
Early Life and Career
Born into a sports-loving family, Irfan’s father, Mehmood Khan Pathan served as the muezzin at the local mosque while also working in a small factory. Not forgetting his interest in cricket, he helped arrange matches for his sons – Yusuf (Irfan’s elder brother) and Irfan. With little resources but immense potential, both siblings went on to be successful professional cricketers of their time.
Career Highlights
- Pathan made his debut against Australia at Adelaide on December 12th, 2003 as part of the India squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
- In just five months after his Test debut, he managed to feature in all three formats when he got selected for Asia Cup 2004 against Sri Lanka held at Dambulla. It turned out high-scoring match; Irfan demonstrated quality seam-up bowling taking 2/29 and managed economy rate despite still being new to this format.
- The peak of‘s career came during Pakistan’s Tour of India in 2005-06 where he performed exceedingly well qualifying him for Man of the Match award. Herein, he became first bowler to take a Test hat-trick in first over of match.
- In 2007, he was named ‘Man of the Match’ in the final of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 against Pakistan – an achievement that signified his exemplary skills and strategic acumen.
- Pathan played under several IPL franchises during his cricketing career. Incidentally, he received one of the highest contracts for IPL’s initial season with Kings XI Punjab.
Career Downfall and Retirement
Despite being a phenomenal cricketer, Pathan’s consistently deteriorating form led to him being dropped from the team on multiple occasions post 2008. He made sporadic comebacks during this period but they were short-lived due to injuries and fitness issues. His last international appearance was in October 2012 against South Africa. On January 4th, 2020, Irfan officially announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Post-Retirement Activities
Irfan Pathan has smoothly transitioned into a well-regarded sports commentator and analyst following his retirement. He is often seen giving pre and post-match analysis across various platforms. Additionally, he ventured into acting debuting in a Tamil film titled ‘Cobra’ alongside popular actor Vikram which has generated much anticipation among fans.
