Irfan Pathan facts for kids

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Irfan Pathan

Personal information
Full name	Irfan Khan Pathan
Born	(1984-10-27) 27 October 1984 (age 40) Baroda, Gujarat, India
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Left-arm medium-fast
Role	All rounder
Relations	Yusuf Pathan (brother)
International information
National side	India (2003–2012)
Test debut (cap 248)	12 December 2003 v Australia
Last Test	5 April 2008 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 153)	9 January 2004 v Australia
Last ODI	4 August 2012 v Sri Lanka
ODI shirt no.	56
T20I debut (cap 7)	1 December 2006 v South Africa
Last T20I	2 October 2012 v South Africa
T20I shirt no.	56
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2000–2017	Baroda
2005	Middlesex
2008–2010	Kings XI Punjab
2011–2013	Delhi Daredevils (squad no. 56)
2014	Sunrisers Hyderabad (squad no. 56)
2016	Rising Pune Supergiants (squad no. 28)
2017	Gujarat Lions (squad no. 56)
2020	Kandy Tuskers
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC Matches 29 120 24 122 Runs scored 1,305 1,544 172 4,559 Batting average 33.89 23.39 24.57 30.39 100s/50s 1/7 0/5 0/0 3/26 Top score 102 83 33* 121 Balls bowled 5,884 5,855 462 21,034 Wickets 100 173 28 384 Bowling average 32.26 29.72 22.07 28.33 5 wickets in innings 7 2 0 19 10 wickets in match 2 0 0 3 Best bowling 7/59 5/27 3/16 7/35 Catches/stumpings 8/– 21/– 2/– 30/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  India ICC T20 World Cup Winner 2007 South Africa ICC Champions Trophy Winner 2013 England and Wales ACC Asia Cup Runner-up 2004 Sri Lanka Runner-up 2008 Pakistan
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 6 January 2019

Irfan Pathan (born 27 October 1984) is a former Indian cricketer who is now a cricket commentator and analyst. He was a bowling all-rounder, which means he was skilled at both bowling and batting. Pathan was a key member of the Indian team that won the first-ever 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

When he started his career, Pathan was a fast-medium swing bowler. He joined the Indian national team when he was just 19. His amazing ability to swing the cricket ball earned him comparisons to the great Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram.

One of his most famous moments came in early 2006. He became the only bowler in history to take a hat-trick (three wickets in three consecutive balls) in the very first over of a Test match. This incredible feat happened against Pakistan.

After 2006, he struggled with his bowling speed and swing, which made it harder for him to take wickets. Even though his batting improved, he was dropped from the team for a while. He made a strong comeback in the 2007 World Twenty20, helping India win the final. He retired from all forms of cricket in January 2020.

Personal Life and Background

Irfan Pathan was born in Baroda, Gujarat, India. He and his older brother, Yusuf Pathan, who also became a famous cricketer, grew up in a mosque in Vadodara. Their family did not have much money, and their father was a muezzin (a person who calls people to prayer).

Their parents hoped they would become Islamic scholars, but both brothers loved cricket. At first, Irfan's bowling wasn't very strong. But he trained for six hours every day in the hot sun. This hard work and discipline helped him become a great player.

In 2016, Pathan married Safa Baig, a model from Jeddah. They have two sons.

Early Cricket Journey

With help from former Indian captain Datta Gaekwad, Pathan was selected for the Under-14 Baroda cricket team. When he was chosen for the Under-15 national tournament, he finally got his own full set of cricket gear. Before that, he had to use second-hand equipment because his family couldn't afford new gear.

Pathan quickly moved up through the youth teams. His excellent performance in an Asian youth tournament in 2003 caught everyone's attention. He was the best bowler in the tournament, taking 18 wickets. In one match against Bangladesh, he took an amazing 9 wickets for just 16 runs. These performances led to his selection for the senior Indian national team.

International Career

A Shining Debut

Pathan made his Test debut in December 2003, after an injury to fellow bowler Zaheer Khan.

Pathan made his Test debut against Australia in December 2003 at the age of 19. In the ODI series that followed, he was the top wicket-taker with 16 wickets. He even won his first Man of the Match award for taking 4 wickets for 24 runs against Zimbabwe.

In 2004, he played a huge role in India's historic Test series win in Pakistan. His great performances continued, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) named him the Emerging Player of the Year in 2004.

Becoming a Top All-Rounder

Pathan bowling in the nets.

When Greg Chappell became India's coach in 2005, he saw Pathan's potential as a batsman. Pathan worked hard on his batting and became a true all-rounder. He was even asked to open the batting for India and scored 93 runs in one Test match.

For a while, he was one of the best all-rounders in the world. He was ranked No. 2 in the ICC's ODI rankings for all-rounders. People started comparing him to India's legendary all-rounder, Kapil Dev.

The Famous Hat-Trick

On January 29, 2006, in a Test match against Pakistan in Karachi, Pathan made history. In the first over of the match, he took a hat-trick. He dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf on three straight deliveries. To this day, he is the only bowler to achieve a Test hat-trick in the first over of a match.

2007 T20 World Cup Hero

After a period of poor form, Pathan made a comeback for the first-ever World Twenty20 in 2007. He played a crucial role throughout the tournament.

In the final against Pakistan, he delivered an outstanding performance. He took 3 wickets for just 16 runs, dismissing key Pakistani batsmen. His brilliant bowling helped India win the thrilling final, and he was named the Man of the Match.

Later Career and Retirement

Irfan Pathan taking his run-up in an ODI against Australia in 2012

Pathan's performance in the T20 World Cup earned him a spot back in the Test and ODI teams. He even scored his first and only Test century (102 runs) against Pakistan in 2007. However, he struggled to keep his place in the team due to injuries and inconsistent form.

He continued to play domestic cricket, including for the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams like Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils. He also served as a coach and mentor for the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team. In January 2020, Pathan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Life After Cricket

Television and Film

In 2015, Pathan participated in the popular dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. He also made his acting debut in the 2022 Tamil movie Cobra, where he played a lead role.

Cricket Academy

Irfan and his brother Yusuf started the Cricket Academy of Pathans. The academy aims to train young, aspiring cricketers across India. They have teamed up with famous cricketers like Kapil Dev to mentor the young players.

Filmography