Pathan played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is for India from 2003-2012.
One of the most talented and finest all-rounders India ever produced, Irfan Pathan announced his retirement from all cricket on January 4, 2020, ending a career that saw him get to dizzying heights and facing the lowest of lows as well. His career will always be remembered as a player who couldn’t fulfill the potential he showed.
Hailing from Baroda, the left-arm seamer who could swing the ball both ways and strong hitter, Irfan Pathan came into the national spotlight after being picked in the Indian team for Australia tour of 2003-04 and left a mark on his Test debut in Adelaide. Matthew Hayden was his first wicket but didn’t do much in the match that India won thanks to Rahul Dravid. He got his moment in Sydney Test when he clean bowled Adam Gilchrist with a brilliant inswinging yorker, a clip that is still widely watched. Pathan, however, had a very good VB tri-series after the Tests, picking the highest of 16 wickets for India in the tournament.
"Time to start the next journey", Irfan Pathan bids emotional farewell
He then traveled to Pakistan for a historic series and though he had a quiet ODI series with 8 wickets in five matches; he came into his own in Tests, picking 12 wickets, as India won both the series. He continued to do well for India until 2005 when the new coach Greg Chappell earmarked him for greatness and asked him to focus on his batting and promoted him to no.3 and as an opener as well in both formats of the game.
In the process, he lost both his pace and ability to swing the ball, though he played some good innings with the bat. Then he was hit by a slew of injuries and found himself struggling with the form as well, despite some highlighting performances in between. He was one of the star performers in India’s 2007 World T20 win, but injuries and form hampered his career right through to 2011, he made one final performance against Sri Lanka in 2012 and played his final match in the World T20 the same year.
Today, Team COC looks back at five of the most memorable Irfan Pathan performances.
Check out 5 of the most brilliant moments in amazing career of Irfan Pathan
Maiden Test century against Pakistan
India and Pakistan were playing what proved to be their last Test series to date on Indian soil, with the home side winning the first Test in Delhi and coming into the third Test in Bengaluru trying to keep that lead intact.
Yusuf Pathan shares an emotional note for brother Irfan as the latter retires from cricket
Anil Kumble won the toss and chose to bat first and went onto plaster 626 runs in their first innings. Sourav Ganguly made his career-best 239, while Yuvraj Singh too scored the highest score of his Test career in 169. But it was Irfan Pathan, who rubbed salt in the wounds of Pakistani players, as he slammed his maiden Test hundred, scoring 102 in 133 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes. It was a chanceless inning and Pathan demolished Pak leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and the part-timers employed by Younis Khan.
It was a long dream fulfilled as he had missed out on the same against Sri Lanka a few matches ago and Pathan didn’t want to let this chance go and took full advantage of a tiring opposition bowling.
Man of the Match performance in Perth Test 2008
Australia had called in pace demon Shaun Tait for this Test match in Perth, while India was charged up to show the home side their mettle. India batted first and scored 330 with Tendulkar making 71 and Pathan contributing 28 runs. In reply, RP Singh picked 4/68 and Pathan took 2/63, as Australia capitulated for 212 runs.
Irfan Pathan reveals his ‘only regret’ after announcing retirement from all forms of cricket
In the second do, Irfan Pathan was promoted to no.3 position and slammed 46 runs with 6 fours as India made 294 and set Australia 413 to win. This Test was going to be Irfan Pathan’s as he removed opener, Phil Jacques, for 16 and Rogers for 15, jolting the Aussies top-order. While RP Singh, Anil Kumble, and Sehwag picked two wickets each in the middle order, Pathan returned to remove a defiant Stuart Clark, who had made 32 and helped India register an emotional and historic win at Perth.
Irfan Pathan was named the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
21 wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe
Irfan Pathan was barely a year into international cricket when India made a full tour to Zimbabwe in 2005, which will be remembered as Irfan Pathan’s Test series. He picked a total of 21 wickets in two Test matches and was easily the Player of the Series and the Man of the Match in both the matches.
In the first Test in Bulawayo, Pathan picked 5/58 and 4/53 and scored 52 runs in India’s only innings, as they slammed 554 with Laxman making 140 and Ganguly making 101. Zimbabwe was bowled out for 279 and 155 as India won the match by an innings and 90 runs.
Irfan Pathan announces retirement from all forms of cricket
The second Test match at Harare proved to be the crowning glory for Irfan Pathan, as he got both swing and seam movement and destroyed Zimbabwe. He picked 7/59 in the first innings helping India bowl Zimbabwe out for 161 runs. India made 366 with Gambhir making 97 and Dravid making 98, while Pathan contributed 32.
Zimbabwe fared better in second innings, making 223, but Pathan picked 5/67, making it 12 wickets in the match for the all-rounder. India chased down the 19 runs required and India won by 10 wickets. This remains the best Test performance for the left-handed bowler in his Test career.
Leads India to 2007 World T20 glory against Pakistan
He raised his game to the next level when India faced off against Pakistan in the final of the 2007 World T20 at the Wanderers’ Stadium in Johannesburg. India batted first and it was a huge occasion for Pathan family, as Irfan’s elder brother Yusuf made his India debut and opened the innings alongside Gautam Gambhir. The Men in Blue made 157/5 with Gambhir top-scoring with 75 and Rohit Sharma made 30.
Indian cricket fraternity pays tribute to Irfan Pathan as all-rounder retires from all cricket
In reply, RP Singh removed Mohammad Hafeez for 1 and Kamran Akmal for a duck. And then Irfan Pathan came into his own, dismantling the middle order of the Green Army. He removed captain Shoaib Malik for 8, the dangerous Shahid Afridi for a golden duck and accounted for Yasir Arafat, who was looking dangerous, for 11 runs.
We all know how Misbah-Ul-Haq threatened to take the game away from India in the last few overs until he played that false scoop shot against Joginder Sharma and India won the match and the title by 5 runs.
Irfan Pathan was named the Player of the Finals in what was truly a worthy performance.
First over hat-trick versus Pakistan in Karachi
Irfan Pathan recalls sledging against Kumar Sangakkara that got personal
The first three balls went past the edge of Salman Butt easily, but magic happened on the last three balls. Pathan swung the ball amazingly, which took Butt’s edge and Dravid pouched it with ease. Next came in captain Younis Khan and he was trapped in front of wickets with an in dipper first ball. Pathan was on a hat-trick and facing him was Mohammad Yousuf and Pathan clean bowled him the first ball with a beautiful in-swinger, becoming the first bowler in Test history to pick a hat-trick in the first over of the Test match.
Pathan also became only the second Indian at that time to pick a Test hat-trick after Harbhajan Singh and it remains the crowning glory of the career of Irfan Pathan.
Watch Irfan Pathan's amazing hat-trick here