New Delhi: Today, the nation wishes former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, better known as ‘Sultan of Swing,’ 40th birthday. Vadodara-born Pathan has enjoyed memorable milestones and has been one of the most influential players in Indians cricketing history through the future hattrick and champion team of the T20 world cup in 2007.
The Unforgettable Test Hattrick Record
Any bowler dreams of taking a hattrick in Test cricket but Irfan Pathan did it in the most special way possible. He became only the second Indian bowler to achieve a Test hattrick during the third Test at Karachi against Pakistan in January 2006. Pathan’s hattrick was in the very first over of the match making him the first bowler in the history of cricket to take a hattrick in the first over of a Test. He bowled out Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf on the fourth, fifth and sixth balls respectively leaving a record intact to this day.
Legend of Indian Cricket – T20 World Cup 2007
His great memories are not only confined to Test cricket, the man from Pathan landed up playing a significant role in the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. In the time of MS Dhoni, team India won in South Africa and Pathan played a key role in the team’s success. Overall, seven matches, he totals ten wickets; the performance in final match, he bowled four economical over for just 16 and take three wickets. He bagged the Man of the Match title in the final from his great performance in the match.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Pathan was an enormously gifted cricketer who played his last competitive match at the age of 28 because of injuries and the decline in performance. His career also included 29 test matches in which he took 100 wickets and scored 1105 runs, 120 one day internationals and 24 T20 internationals in which he took 173 wickets and scored 1544 runs respectively further he took 28 wickets and scored 172 runs in T20 Internationals.
He also been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) initially with Delhi Daredevils, later with Rising Pune supersgiants, Kings XI Punjab, Chennai superb kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Pathan is now happily employed as a cricket commentator where he has proved to be an authority and a quick-witted live analyst. Apart from that he is still often seen posting on his social media accounts and regularly responds to his fans and sometimes discussing cricket matters.