24 Interesting Facts About Irfan Pathan- “The Swing King of India”

Irfan Pathan is one of the most lethal swing bowlers India has ever produced. He could swing the ball both ways from the good length and was a reliable lower-order batsman also, who batted up the order a few times in his career. A promising youngster whose career was not that long which people were expecting to be, but he has displayed his caliber every time he got an opportunity. There are some interesting facts about Irfan Pathan which will make you say wow, let’s talk about them. 

Interesting Facts About Irfan Pathan

1. Irfan Pathan was born in a poor Pathan family in Baroda on 27th October 1981. He was brought up in a mosque in Vadodara. His father Mehmood Khan Pathan was a muezzin in the mosque. 

2. Irfan’s brother Yusuf Pathan is also an international cricketer, has represented India in 79 matches. 

3. Irfan’s father Mehmood wanted him and Yusuf to be Islamic scholars but they had a passion for playing cricket and went on to play for India. 

4. Irfan Pathan’s nickname is Guddu. 

5. Former Indian captain Datta Gaekwad’s guidance & Irfan’s hard work helped him to get into the U-15 squad of Baroda. After his selection, Irfan got his first new cricket. Earlier, he had to use 2nd hand cricket gear due to poverty. 

6. Every cricketer grows up watching someone, Irfan Pathan’s idol is the best left-arm seamer, Wasim Akram. 

7. Irfan Pathan played for India U-15 in 2000, he grabbed 15 wickets in the multi-nation series. 

8. In the 2002 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Pathan was a part of the team, scalping 6 wickets in the event.

9. Pathan made his first appearance in international cricket in a test match against Australia at Adelaide. Swashbuckling opener Matthew Hayden was his first wicket at the highest level. 

10. For his outstanding performance in his initial career, ICC bestowed him the “ICC Emerging player of the Year” award. 

11. During the 2006 India tour of Pakistan, contemporary Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said- “Bowlers like Irfan is in every street in Pakistan” following the comparison between Wasim Akram and Pathan. In the very next match, Irfan bagged a hat-trick in Karachi and hogged the headline in the country. 

12. Irfan Pathan is the first Indian pacer to take a Test hat-trick. 

13. The southpaw made his ODI debut against Australia in 2004. Pathan became the fastest Indian to take 100 ODI wickets in just 59 matches. Later in 2019, Mohmmad Shami dethroned him to be the fastest Indian to do so (56 innings). 

14. In India’s famous T20 World Cup final victory, Irfan Pathan was the Man of the Match for his 3/16 in 4 overs. 

15. Not everyone knows but Irfan was a part of the Indian contingent which won the 2013 Champions Trophy. However, he didn’t get a single match to play. 

16. Seeing poverty and problems in his younger days Pathan has been helping needy people by setting up “Mehmood Pathan Charitable Trust” in 2007 after earning respect and money. In the 2020 Corona outbreak, the Pathan brothers donated food and Oxygen Concentrators in Baroda. 
17. Irfan Pathan bagged a fifer in his last ODI match against Sri Lanka in 2012. 

18. The IPL journey of Irfan has not been smooth. He has played for six IPL teams in his career- KXIP (2008-10), Delhi Daredevils (2011-13), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014), Chennai Super Kings (2015), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016), and Gujarat Lions (2017). Having played 103 IPL games, he took 80 wickets and made 1139 runs.

19. The best first-class cricket in the world is County cricket. They keep scouting for the best players around the world. Pathan played for Middlesex in 2005. 

20. Pathan is a multi-talented sportsperson. He participated in the reality show “Jhalak Dikhlla Ja” in 2015 and won many hearts with his decent dancing skills. 

21. Irfan and Yusuf Pathan have combinedly opened a coaching camp called “Cricket Academy of Pathans”. 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev and former Indian coach Greg Chappell are the mentors of this academy. 

22. The left-hand all-rounder tied his knot with Saudi Arabia-based model Safa Baig in 2016. They have a son together named “Imran Khan”. 

23. Irfan Pathan’s jersey number was 56. 

24. His estimated net worth is $7 million.