The big man, Yusuf Pathan - who made his international debut against Pakistan in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa - celebrates his 38th birthday today (17 November).
The big man, Yusuf Pathan - who made his international debut against Pakistan in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa - celebrates his 38th birthday today (17 November).
Theall-rounder played a small but vital role in winning the title for India. He had replaced Virender Sehwag and scored 15 runs off just 8 balls while opening the innings against the arch-rivals. Now 13 years down the line, the Baroda cricketer is still around having played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for the country.
Not just for the country, the player has even won the IPL title thrice - once with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and twice with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In the 2008 IPL, he slammed 435 runs for RR and had made it to India’s ODI side in June 2008.
Over the years, Yusuf Pathan has stunned cricket fans with his aggressive batting and on this special day, a look at some of his record-breaking knocks.
1. Second fastest first-class century by an Indian off 51 balls
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This feat was achieved during the 2008/09 season in the Duleep Trophy. Yusuf Pathan was playing for West Zone against Central Zone and smashed 107 runs off just 66 balls.
He reached the three-figure off the 51st delivery to go into the record books. This is the second-fastest first-class century by an Indian ever.
Interestingly, Yusuf stitched a partnership of 136 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara and his contribution to it was of 107 runs.
2. Joint second fastest IPL fifty in 15 balls
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Yusuf Pathan was with KKR when this special record took place. The 2014 IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) was a crucial one for his side and they had to chase down 161 within 15.2 overs to finish second on the points table.
However, KKR was struggling at 55/2 after 7.3 overs and that was when Yusuf walked in. He smacked the opposition bowlers to score the then fastest IPL fifty off just 15 balls.
Yusuf scored 72 off just 22 deliveries with five fours and as many as seven sixes. KKR successfully chased down the total in 14.2 overs and to add to it, they also won the IPL for the second time in the same season.
While Yusuf’s knock is not among the fastest now, he still has his name on the record.
3. Fastest century by an Indian in the IPL
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This milestone was achieved in 2010 when Yusuf Pathan was still with the Royals. While chasing 213 runs to win against Mumbai Indians (MI), he came out to bat with the team tottering at 40/3 in the seventh over and things worsened with the score reading 66/4 in the 10th over.
However, Yusuf struck the MI bowlers and went on to smack a 37-ball ton. He hit nine fours and eight sixes but was unfortunately run-out soon after reaching the tripple digit.
His knock ended up being on the losing side, but it still remains in the record books as one of the fastest ton by an Indian in the IPL.
4. Fastest List-A ton by an Indian off 40 balls
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2010 was a special year for Yusuf Pathan. Before 37-ball ton in the IPL, he had clobbered the Maharashtra bowlers in the West Zone Vijay Hazare Trophy match.
Chasing 231 to win, Yusuf smacked a 40-ball century to create waves through the Indian cricket. He rode his side to an easy seven-wicket win with more than 13 overs to spare.
Yusuf Pathan still owns the record of hitting the fastest List-A century by an Indian even after all these years.
5. Second fastest List-A fifty by an Indian in 18 balls
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Yet again in 2010, Yusuf Pathan played for West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy final against Virat Kohli-led North Zone.
The North Zone posted 264 runs in 50 overs and seemed to be coasting to victory by reducing the opposition to 100/5 in the 22nd over. However, Yusuf walked to the crease turned the game.
His knock of 80 runs off just 39 balls gave a massive score to Kohli and Co. In the process, he also recorded the fastest fifty in the Indian List-A history then.
Though Yusuf ended up on the losing side, he was the talking point and that knock is still the second-fastest half-century in Indian List-A history.
