Former Baroda and India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has decided to hang up his boots from all forms of cricket on Saturday. The 35-year old left-arm pacer, who was also a decent batsman, finishes with 2,821 runs and 301 wickets from 173 internationals (29 Tests, 120 ODIs 24 and T20Is) across formats. Having played his last First-Class game a year ago, he has a total of 4,559 first-class runs to go with 384 wickets.
Irfan came onto the scene in the early 2000’s, at a time when India was searching for a pace-bowling all-rounder who could win them matches along with Zaheer Khan. In 2003, he first made headlines with a nine-wicket haul in an Under-19 match against Bangladesh in Lahore. Soon Pathan was first-tracked to the national team.
After a successful debut tour of Australia in 2003-04, where his reverse swing outclassed the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh, followed by a series in Pakistan where he finished with 12 wickets from three Tests and played a key role in India’s first-ever series triumph (Test) in that country.
Two years later, he was back in Pakistan to become only the second Indian to take a Test hat-trick. Irfan was also a part of the young Indian side competing in the maiden T20 World Cup and was Player of the Match in the final against Pakistan for his 3/16 as MS Dhoni’s men lifted the trophy.
His good form against Pakistan continued later that year when, playing his first Test in 18 months, he made his maiden Test century in Bengaluru. The following month in 2008, he starred with bat and ball in Perth, making a valuable 46 from No.3 in the second innings, while claiming five wickets in the match, to be Player of the Match in a famous win for India.
However, injuries plagued his career, and his form and pace often suffered. While he was a part of the victorious Champions Trophy-winning side in 2013, he played his last match in India colours during the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
After his retirement, Irfan will continue to be associated with Jammu and Kashmir as a mentor along with his commentary stints. He has also made himself available for foreign franchise-based T20 leagues. His elder brother Yusuf is still an active cricketer.