On Saturday (January 4), Irfan Pathan bid adieu to all forms of international cricket after having played his lastꦫ game for India 🙈in 2012.
T🦂he🦋 cricketing fraternity qued up to congratulate Pathan for his glorious career. Irfan bid farewell to his international career during a special program at the Star Sports studio.
The Baroda-lad, who is the first and only bowler to pic🧸k up a hat-trick in the first over of a match, has helped the Indian team out of tricky situations, on numerous occasions. In fact, apart from his bowling abilities, Irfan also starred with the bat on several occasions as he amassed 1544 runs off the 87 innings that he played in One Day Internationals✃ (ODIs).
In his cricketing career which lasted for almost a decade, Pathan was a part of many of India’s famous triumphs which include the historic tour of Pakistan in 2003-04, T20 World Cup 2007, the Australian tri-series in 2007-08, etc. He played his last international match against South Africa in the ICC World T20 2012.
Cricket f👍raternity flooded in their messages for Irfan Pathan on social media wi🌼shing him a happy retirement.
Here are some of the best reactions:
So ma🏅ny match winning spells, numerous match winning innings, one of the best all arounders I have played with. You are a true champion my frie🦹nd. Good luck for your second innings. Cheers
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir)
Wish you great 2nd inn my brother what a champion bowler and a fighter on the field.. go🦄d bless you🌸 brother.. lots of love
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Was such a joy to see evolve from a aspiring 17yr old cricketer when I first saw 𓂃him into a mature International Cricketer. You can be very proud of what u have achieved not only as a cricketer but also in mentoring young cricketers from J&K. A very happy 2nd innings
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
🐲Always tough to call it a day but you have made a right decision mate. I can assure you👍 so many old memories with you from our U19 days to Team India. Best wishes for your second innings in commentary box and beyond.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
It has been such a pleasure playing with u since we were only 14..hard to believe 21 years have gone by…thank you for all the memories..congratulations on a wonderful career..enjoy the new chapter of your life…
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9)
Congratulations on an excellent career . Man of the Matꦅch in the T20 World Cup finals and some outstanding performances over the years. Wishing you some amazing time at commentary, photography and a lot more. Stay Blessed !
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
it's been pleasure & joy sharing the dressing room with you.
The way you have 🦋evolved & evolving is inspiration for youngsters.— RAMESH POWAR (@imrameshpowar)
//twitter.com/Lbalaji55/stat🎉us/1213462275719172096
Welcome to the club . Best of left arm swing bowlers our Nation has produced. Hat-trick against Pakistan, contribution with both bat & ball in 2007 T20 WC, Australia, Srilank﷽a series e.t.c are still fresh. Time flies.. Wishing all the luck forꦿ your next phase buddy.
— VenuGopala Rao (@IMVenuGopalRao)
A true gentleman on an♕d off the field bhai , wish you all the very best irfan bhai, very proud to share the dressing room with you .A true gem😊
— Sheldon Jackson (@ShelJackson27)
This is History. Man of the Match in Finals of WT20 2007, Irfan Pathan. Thank you for all the amaz꧒ing memories. Looking forward to see you around the sport.
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu)
Congratulations on an🐓 excellent career. So many landmarks, so many highlights. Remember the wide eyed young man at the breakfast table in Australia growing to play a key role in so many memorable moments for I🌊ndia. Tab gend bolti thi ab zubaan bolegi! Mubarak.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Well played 👏👏 al꧙l the best for your second innings
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Congr🐓atulations on ur wonderful cricket journey bhai god bleꦗss u always 😊🙌🇮🇳
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3)
Irfan Pathan's hat-tricks for India:
In Under-15: vs Thailand in ACC Trophy, 2000
In Under-19: vs Bangladesh in Youth Asia Cup, 2003
In Test Cricket: vs Pakistan in Karachi, 2006— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats)
Congratulations for a fantastic international career.
-Hat-trick in the first over v Pakistan at Karachi
-Player of the Match in the final of WT20 2007
-All-round performance at Perth in 2008
A few memories that stand out
All the best for the next phase of life 🤗— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
It was not just your contribution in the middle but also your conduct.. The way you carried yourself through the most adverse moments of life that makes yo🎐u a champion. Many Congratulations on a glorious career !! One filled with respect & resolve.
— Mikkhail Vaswani (@MikkhailVaswani)
