If there could be one name who could match the capabilities of the Great Kapil Dev on field in all 3 dimensions of the game (Batting, Bowling and Fielding) its undoubtedly has to be Irfan Pathan. The Baroda born cricketer started his career during India’s tour of Australia the famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2003-04.

The only bowler in the history of the game to have taken highest number of wickets wicket playing a single world cup game, a record not to feel proud of, is turning 36 today and we, the team CricketUstaad reminisce some of the moments from his international career.

Only bowler of our time to showcase the real swing bowling and made all the countrymen feel proud on having at-least one in the armory who could be compared with the greats like Wasim Akram. Before his debut the fast bowling unit of India never had a genuine swing bowler, we relied heavily on spinners even in SENA countries where they can hardly get turn.

After kapil dev, Srinath was the lone warrior for India in longer format of the game. Such was the absence that in late nineties sometimes Ganguly had to open the bowling with Srinath in test cricket. This somehow was sorted out when Zaheer Khan made his debut but after 2003 world cup Srinath retired from the game and the fast bowling was again left with a vacuum.

Came the Australia tour of 2003-04 and India introduced young left hand swing bowler Irfan Pathan, who could hardly impress in his first game and conceded 160 runs to grab a wicket in entire match. The real performance was due for the One Dayers and he proved his selection right. world was witnessing for the first time an Indian bowler swinging the bowl both ways and batsman around the world were struggling.

The real moment of joy came for him during India’s tour of Pakistan in 2005-06 when in Karachi he took a hat-trick in first over of the test match dismissing Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. The world was witnessing the roar of Pathan. He didn’t get to play the 2007 50-overs world cup and returned to the team for inaugural season of 20 Overs world cup in 2007. He was adjudged man of the match for his performance of 16/3 in final against Pakistan, helping India win the title.

His fine performance with bat also gained him fame and people started considering him the next Kapil Dev. With some stellar performances with both bat and ball saw him reach to the second spot of the ICC’s All-rounder ranking. In one of the test matches during India’s tour of australia in 2008, he played crucial roles with both bat and ball and saved pride of the country and was adjudged man of the match which also proved to be his penultimate test outing.

Some believe it was the advises from Wasim Akram and other greats of the game which have affected his bowling action and ultimately he lost his penetration and wasn’t able to make it to the side.

Fastest Indian to reach to 100 ODI wickets in 59 matches a record long standing, later broken by Mohammed Shami completing the benchmark in 56 matches. With exactly 100 test wickets in 29 test matches and 1105 run at an average of 31.57 in linger format of the game and 1544 runs and 173 wickets with best of 5/27 in ODIs does not reflect the caliber of the man Pathan used to be on field. People who have seen him play and swing the ball are the ones who will realize the real value of the rare diamond of Indian cricket.

Today he is turning 36 and he is already into the new innings of his life. He has been into commentary box, participated in the dance reality show and also running his own cricket academy in Vadodara. We @CricketUstaad wish him success in every domain of life.

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