3 players who won the Player of the Match award in their final ODI

1. Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan burst onto the international scene for India in style in 2003 and showcased the brilliant ability to swing the ball at a good pace and aptitude to score runs with the bat. People compared him with Kapil Dev and Irfan did well to justify the comparison. He was the second Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick. 

He was the Player of the Final when India won the 2007 T20 World Cup and had a leading role in India’s only tri-series ODI win in Australia in 2008. He played 29 Tests, taking 100 wickets and scoring 1105 runs with 1 century. In 120 ODIs, Pathan took 173 wickets and scored 1544 runs. And in 24 T20Is, Pathan took 28 wickets.

However, by 2011-12, Pathan suffered from fluctuation in form and a knee injury which proved to be the doom of his international career. His last ODI was against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2012. He made 29* and picked 5/61 to help India win the series 4-1. But this was his final match for India and Pathan later retired from all cricket formats in 2020.