Watch: Irfan Pathan’s iconic Hat-Trick against Pakistan on his birthday

Former India pacer, Irfan Pathan celebrated his 39^th birthday on Sunday, October 27. Very few are aware of the fact that Pathan was named Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup 2007 final against Pakistan. India lifted their maiden T20 title and the left-arm pacer dazzled with three wickets conceding only 16 runs bowling four overs. 

Moreover, he picked the key wickets of Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, who eventually won Player of the Series, to help India lay a hand on a world title after 24 years. However, one of the most incredible highlights of his Test career with Team India was when Pathan rose to fame by claiming a sensational hat-trick against Pakistan in 2006’s Karachi Test. Notably, he dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf to become the only the second Indian in the history of the game to bag a hat-trick back in 2006.

Here's the video of Pathan's hat-trick:

Irfan and Yusuf Pathan's batting special led India to a famous win in Colombo

Furthermore, the Baroda all-rounder was equally impactful with the bat. The same could be gauged from his shenanigans in Colombo, back in 2009, where he partnered with his bloodline, Yusuf Pathan, to take India over the line from a precarious situation against Sri Lanka. In the only T20I, chasing a target of 172, India were down to 115 with seven batters back in the hut.

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The Pathan brothers orchestrated an island heist against the likes of Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Thilan Thushara. They stitched 59 runs for the eighth wicket as India won by three wickets and four balls remaining. While Yusuf scored 22 off 10 and Irfan played a quickfire knock of 33 off just 16 balls. 

Irfan played 29 Tests with 100 wickets and 1105 runs complemented by a century and six half-centuries. He donned the blue jersey 120 times in ODIs, picking 173 wickets at an average of 29.72, while in 24 T20Is, the pacer plucked 28 wickets at an average of 22.07.