5 Most impactful performances by Yusuf Pathan in International cricket

One of the hardest hitters in the cricketing world, Yusuf Pathan, was selected for the Under-16 team of Baroda in the 1999-2000 season of Vijay Merchant Trophy. Some eye-catching performances at age-level cricket for Baroda and West Zone led him into making his Ranji debut in the 2001-02 season, although it took him a good three to four years before becoming a regular face in the Baroda squad.

After making his name as a quick-scorer who also had the knack of bowling some handy off-spin, Yusuf earned his maiden international call up for the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa, 2007. He made his ODI debut in the following year in the Bangladesh tri-series after grabbing the spotlight in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008, where he played an instrumental role in the Rajasthan Royals’ triumph by scoring 435 runs including four fifties at a marvelous strike-rate of 179.

At the peak of his 50-over career, Yusuf drove India to victory with a sensational, match-winning 123 against New Zealand in a chase of 316. His 105 against South Africa in Centurion gave the home side a massive scare, although it eventually ended in a losing cause. He continued to be part of India’s limited-overs squad and was a member of the team that won the 2011 ICC ODI World Cup. However, slightly fluctuating returns thereafter meant that he lost his place on the international side – he last represented India in March 2012 and hung his boots after 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is

Though his reputation has been of a limited-over wonder, Yusuf is no mug in the longer format. He never quite managed to find a break in India’s Test setup, however, at the domestic stage, Yusuf was quite a force to reckon with, and his tally of 4825 runs at 34.46 with 11 centuries, 20 half-centuries suggest just that. Add to that 201 wickets with 14 fifers and one knows why he continued to be Baroda’s regular feature.

Here is a look at Yusuf Pathan’s topmost performances in international cricket:

1. 123* off 96 vs New Zealand, 2010

Arguably the most impactful performance of Pathan’s career came under the cold, night sky of Bengaluru during the 4th ODI of the five-match series against New Zealand. After being put in, the visitors were powered to 315/7 by James Franklin’s 98 and cameos from Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, and Brendon McCullum, New Zealand.

Languishing at 188/5 in the 34th over with Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Yuvraj Singh all back in the pavilion, any chance that New Zealand smelled to open their account in the series were quashed by a serious assault from Yusuf Pathan, who slammed 7 sixes and as many fours in his 96-ball 123. Well assisted by Saurabh Tiwary, with whom Pathan added a match-winning, unbeaten 133-run partnership, he guided India home with 5 balls to spare.