Name Hindi: वसीम जाफ़र / Gender Man
Wasim Jaffer: A Doyen of Indian Cricket
Known for his solid technique and resilient spirit, Wasim Jaffer is often regarded as one of the finest openers that the Indian cricket has produced. From spectacular on-pitch performances in first-class cricket to imparting wisdom off-field as a coach, Jaffer’s contribution to Indian cricket spans over two decades.
Early Life & Career
Born on February 16, 1978, in Mumbai, India, Wasim Jaffer showed immense interest in cricket from an early age. He had stellar beginnings at junior-level tournaments where he shone with his exceptional batting skills. His talent was recognized by renowned coaches who honed his skills and laid the foundation for his professional career.
- Made his debut in First-Class Cricket playing for Mumbai in November 1996 against Saurashtra.
- Moved onto international cricket making his Test Debut against South Africa in February 2000.
Distinguished Performances
Jaffer earned fame not just within India but also made notable contributions in International Cricket games. A quick look at some of them:
- In March 2005, during the test match series between India and Pakistan, he became the third Indian player after Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to hit two hundreds in a Test match.
- Jaffer’s highest score in test matches came against West Indies when he scored 212 runs at St John’s.
- His double century (202) against Pakistan made him the fourth opener to twice score a double-century, following Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag.
- He is also the first Indian player to be involved in all three forms of dismissals requiring DRS reviews – an LBW decision overturned on review, being given out caught behind after a reviewed not-out decision and becoming the first player to be dismissed via DRS.
Late Career & Switching Roles
In 2018, Jaffer became the fifth batsman in history to cross 19,000 runs in First-Class Cricket. Despite these staggering records, he fell off national selectors’ radar due to lack of consistent performances at international level and increasing competition. This led Jaffer to join Vidarbha team as a professional coach where his influence guided young talent towards two consecutive Ranji Trophy wins.
Legacy
The unceremonious end of his career often overshadows Wasim Jaffer’s remarkable contributions. He retires with several records under his belt including being the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy cricket and Irani Cup cricket. With over two decades of serving Indian Cricket as a dependable opening batsman or as an excellent mentor, Wasim Jaffer undeniably leaves behind a legacy worth celebrating!
