Twitter Reactions: Irfan Pathan calls time on his cricketing career
He picked a total of 301 international wickets to go with 2821 runs with the bat at the highest level.
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India all-rounder Irfan Pathan announced retirement from all forms of the game on Saturday. He last played for India back in 2012 in the World T20 against South Africa in Sri Lanka. However, he continued contributing to his state team Baroda in the domestic cricket before his shifting his base to Jammu & Kashmir where he took up a dual role of mentor and player.
Despite the fact that Irfan fell out of favour post-2012 across all formats, the left-arm pacer gave Indian fans a lot of memories to cherish with his performances. His exceptional yorker to Adam Gilchrist during 2003-04 Australia tour, his Man of the Match performance against Pakistan in 2007 and the most important one, a hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006, these moments are still talked about fondly.
Irfan ended with 301 international wickets
Irfan Pathan, who deserved more international caps, played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20 Internationals for India and picked 301 wickets at the highest level. Irfan stunned many with his batting prowess as well and at times batted at the top of the order when he was at the peak of his career. Rather, when Greg Chappell was India’s head coach, the southpaw also opened the innings in a few matches and impressed many.
Injuries and dip in bowling form hampered Irfan Pathan’s career but he never gave up and made a stellar comeback. However, after the World T20 in 2012, he was dropped and never picked. He was the highest wicket-taker in the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy which had harboured chances of his comeback with the World T20 in India approaching.
Irfan had picked 17 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 15.76 and an economy of 7.30. He had also scored 200 runs at a strike-rate of around 152 performing the role of a finisher for Baroda. However, he wasn’t picked in the India squad for the tournament and this is where the man realised that his comeback to the national team wasn’t possible.
Nevertheless, he still contributed to the Indian cricket a lot with his performances during his illustrious career and has called it quits with no regrets and with his head held high. Soon after he announced his retirement, Twitterati flooded in its messages for Irfan Pathan on social media wishing him a happy retirement.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
@IrfanPathan it's been pleasure & joy sharing the dressing room with you.
The way you have evolved & evolving is inspiration for youngsters. pic.twitter.com/owKMLBmb02— ramesh powar (@imrameshpowar) January 4, 2020
So many match winning spells, numerous match winning innings, one of the best all arounders I have played with. You are a true champion @IrfanPathan my friend. Good luck for your second innings. Cheers #irfanpathan pic.twitter.com/J5GyGhhQ6g
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 4, 2020
Wish you great 2nd inn my brother @IrfanPathan what a champion bowler and a fighter on the field.. god bless you brother.. lots of love #irfanpathan #irfanretired pic.twitter.com/h3vQ8Ttd4w
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 4, 2020
Was such a joy to see #IrfanPathan evolve from a aspiring 17yr old cricketer when I first saw him 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 pic.twitter.com/T63yF3G7z7
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 4, 2020
It has been such a pleasure playing with u since we were only 14..hard to believe 21 years have gone by…thank you @IrfanPathan for all the memories..congratulations on a wonderful career..enjoy the new chapter of your life… pic.twitter.com/2jUZtnqq2P
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 4, 2020
Congratulations on an excellent career @IrfanPathan . Man of the Match 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 ! pic.twitter.com/aFv1lHiYxR
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 4, 2020
A true gentleman on and off the field @IrfanPathan bhai , wish you all the very best irfan bhai, very proud to share the dressing room with you .A true gem😊
— Sheldon Jackson (@ShelJackson27) January 4, 2020
Irfan Pathan retires from all forms of Cricket. He won the man of the match in the 2007 T20 World Cup final.
Thank you, Irfan for the memories.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 4, 2020
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#ThankYouIrfan #ThankYouIrfanPathan— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 4, 2020
Irfan Pathan, an exciting player from Indo-Pak cricket rivalry, retires. Man-of-the-match in India's WT20 Final win vs PAK, took a hat-trick in first over in Karachi, 3 wickets in ODI series decider in Lahore, century in Bangalore Test. TX for the memories @IrfanPathan. Go well.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 4, 2020
This @IrfanPathan is History. Man of the Match in Finals of WT20 2007, Irfan Pathan. Thank you for all the amazing memories. Looking forward to see you around the sport. #IrfanPathan #ThankyouIrfan @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/ktI22wIDjL
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) January 4, 2020
Congratulations @IrfanPathan 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 India. Tab gend bolti thi ab zubaan bolegi! Mubarak.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 4, 2020
Congratulations @IrfanPathan 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) January 4, 2020
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 @IrfanPathan that makes you a champion. Many Congratulations on a glorious career #irfanpathan !! One filled with respect & resolve.
— Mikkhail Vaswani (@MikkhailVaswani) January 4, 2020
Well played @IrfanPathan 👏👏 all the best for your second innings
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 4, 2020
Hamaari bohot saari yaadein aap se judi hai bhaijaan. 😭 #irfanpathan pic.twitter.com/eqHhlq34B5
— Kabir (@____________HRX) January 4, 2020
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