Former India pacer Irfan Pathan celebrated his 39th birthday on October 27.
Few remember that Pathan was named Player of the Match in the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan, where he took three wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs. His key dismissals of Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi helped India secure their maiden T20 title, bringing home a world trophy after 24 years.
Pathan’s career is also marked by his sensational Test hat-trick against Pakistan in 2006, where he dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf in Karachi.
This achievement made him only the second Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick.
An impactful all-rounder, Pathan showed his batting prowess in a memorable 2009 T20I in Colombo.
Partnering with his brother Yusuf Pathan, he helped India chase down 172 against Sri Lanka, contributing a quick 33 off 16 balls, while Yusuf added 22 off 10, leading India to a three-wicket victory.
Pathan’s career stats include 100 wickets and 1,105 runs in 29 Tests, with a century and six fifties. In ODIs, he took 173 wickets in 120 matches at an average of 29.72, and in T20Is, he claimed 28 wickets at an average of 22.07 across 24 games.