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{{short description|Indian former cricketer (born 1984)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Irfan Pathan
| image = Irfan Pathan72.jpg
| caption =Pathan in 2013 
| country = India
| fullname = Irfan Khan Pathan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1984|10|27}}
| birth_place = [[Baroda]], [[Gujarat]], India
| family = [[Yusuf Pathan]] (brother)
| role = All rounder
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Left-arm medium-fast
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2003–2012
| testdebutdate = 12 December
| testdebutyear = 2003
| testdebutagainst = Australia
| testcap = 248
| lasttestdate = 5 April
| lasttestyear = 2008
| lasttestagainst = South Africa
| odidebutdate = 9 January
| odidebutyear = 2004
| odidebutagainst = Australia
| odicap = 153
| lastodidate = 4 August
| lastodiyear = 2012
| lastodiagainst = Sri Lanka
| odishirt = 56
| T20Idebutdate = 1 December
| T20Idebutyear = 2006
| T20Idebutagainst = South Africa
| T20Icap = 7
| lastT20Idate = 2 October
| lastT20Iyear = 2012
| lastT20Iagainst = South Africa
| T20Ishirt = 56
| club1 = [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]]
| year1 = 2000–2017
| club2 = [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]]
| year2 = 2005
| club3 = [[Kings XI Punjab]]
| year3 = 2008–2010
| club4 = [[Delhi Daredevils]]
| year4 = 2011–2013
| club5 = [[Sunrisers Hyderabad]]
| year5 = 2014
| club6 = [[Rising Pune Supergiants]]
| year6 = 2016
| club7 = [[Gujarat Lions]]
| year7 = 2017
| club8 = [[Kandy Tuskers]]
| year8 = 2020
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 29
| runs1 = 1,305
| bat avg1 = 33.89
| 100s/50s1 = 1/7
| top score1 = 102
| deliveries1 = 5,884
| wickets1 = 100
| bowl avg1 = 32.26
| fivefor1 = 7
| tenfor1 = 2
| best bowling1 = 7/59
| catches/stumpings1 = 8/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 120
| runs2 = 1,544
| bat avg2 = 23.39
| 100s/50s2 = 0/5
| top score2 = 83
| deliveries2 = 5,855
| wickets2 = 173
| bowl avg2 = 29.72
| fivefor2 = 2
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 5/27
| catches/stumpings2 = 21/–
| column3 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches3 = 24
| runs3 = 172
| bat avg3 = 24.57
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 33[[Not out|*]]
| deliveries3 = 462
| wickets3 = 28
| bowl avg3 = 22.07
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 3/16
| catches/stumpings3 = 2/–
| column4 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches4 = 122
| runs4 = 4,559
| bat avg4 = 30.39
| 100s/50s4 = 3/26
| top score4 = 121
| deliveries4 = 21,034
| wickets4 = 384
| bowl avg4 = 28.33
| fivefor4 = 19
| tenfor4 = 3
| best bowling4 = 7/35
| catches/stumpings4 = 30/–
| date = 27 October
| year = 2025
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/32685.html ESPNcricinfo
|medaltemplates={{MedalSport|Men's [[cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{cr|IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC T20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2007 ICC World Twenty20|2007 South Africa]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Champions Trophy]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2013 ICC Champions Trophy|2013 England & Wales]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asia Cup|ACC Asia Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2004 Asia Cup|2004 Sri Lanka]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2008 Asia Cup|2008 Pakistan]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Under-19 Men's Asia Cup|ACC U19 Asia Cup]]}} 
{{Medal|W|[[2003 Asia U19 cricket tournament|2003 Pakistan]]}}}}

'''Irfan Pathan''' ({{audio|Irfan_Pathan.ogg|pronunciation}}; born 27 October 1984) is an Indian cricket [[Sports commentator|commentator]],  [[sports analyst|analyst]] and former player. He was a bowling all-rounder and member of the [[India national cricket team|Indian cricket team]] that won the inaugural [[2007 ICC World Twenty20|2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup]] and [[2013 ICC Champions Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=2;id=6;type=team |title=Cricket Records. India. Records. One-Day Internationals. Most wickets. |publisher=Stats.espncricinfo.com |access-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302195409/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=2;id=6;type=team |archive-date=2 March 2013 }}</ref>

Beginning his career as a fast-medium swing and seam bowler, Pathan broke into the national team soon after turning 19, and evoked comparisons with Pakistan's [[Wasim Akram]] with his promising performances and prodigious swing. In early 2006, Pathan became the only bowler to take a Test [[Hat-trick (cricket)|hat-trick]] in the first [[over (cricket)|over]] of the match<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/cricket/interview/how-i-took-that-special-hat-trick-against-pakistan/20200623.htm|title=Irfan Pathan: 'How I took that special hat-trick against Pakistan'|first=Harish |last=Kotian |date=23 June 2020 |website=Rediff.com}}
</ref> (vs [[Pakistan]] at [[Karachi]]). However, the productive run did not last and after the start of 2006, Pathan began to steadily lose pace and swing, and his wicket-taking dwindled. Although Pathan's batting continued to be productive, he was not regarded as a specialist and was dropped from the team in both Tests and ODIs by the end of 2006, and by 2007 was no longer in the squad until his return in the [[2007 World Twenty20]].

He cemented his position in the team and was named by the [[International Cricket Council]] as the 2004 [[ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year|ICC Men's Emerging Player of the Year]]. Pathan was instrumental in India's ODI and Test series wins in Pakistan in 2004. He was described by the media as the "[[wikt:Blue-eyed boy|blue-eyed boy]]" of Indian cricket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ill-keep-knocking-on--the-indian-teams-door-says-irfan-pathan/15149085|title=I'll keep knocking on the Indian team's door, says Irfan Pathan|date=14 March 2014|work=mid-day|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501051807/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ill-keep-knocking-on--the-indian-teams-door-says-irfan-pathan/15149085|archive-date=1 May 2014}}</ref> In late-2004 he took 18 wickets in two Tests against [[Bangladesh cricket team|Bangladesh]], but the start of 2005 he performed poorly and conceded runs at a high rate, leading to a brief exile from the ODI team.

Immediately thereafter, Australian [[Greg Chappell]], one of the leading batsmen of his time, became India's coach (2005) and identified Pathan's batting potential. Pathan improved his batting skills and tried to become a complete bowling all-rounder, and he opened the batting on occasions in ODIs and scored 93 in a Test match (10 Dec 2005, versus Sri Lanka in Delhi) in the role after an illness to [[Virender Sehwag]]. He made three scores beyond 80 in the space of four Test innings against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. For the first nine months of Chappell's stint at the helm, Pathan performed strongly with both bat and ball, scoring runs regularly and frequently taking top-order wickets. He rose to No. 2 in the ICC's ODI rankings for all-rounders and was also in the top five in the Test rankings. This led critics to compare him to former Indian pace bowling allrounder [[Kapil Dev]].<ref name="long">{{cite news|first= Rahul|last=Bhattacharya|title = Irfan Pathan's excellent adventure| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/141301.html|date = 31 May 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

He returned to international cricket in September 2007 for the inaugural [[World Twenty20]], where he took three wickets and was man of the match as India beat Pakistan in the final. Pathan became the first Indian bowler on [[ICC Men's T20 World Cup|T20 World Cup]] debut who picked up a wicket on the first ball. This earned him a recall into the ODI team, where he was a regular for most of the next 12 months before being dropped as his economy rate continued to trend upwards and subsequently struggled with a loss of form and injuries. In late-2007 Pathan was also recalled into the Test team after 19 months and hit his maiden Test century, but could not maintain his place in the team as his bowling was not effective enough with only two pacemen needed. Pathan played his last Test for India in April 2008 against South Africa.<ref name="espncricinfo1">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2012/content/player/32685.html |title=Irfan Pathan. India Cricket. Cricket Players and Officials |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805011530/http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2012/content/player/32685.html |archive-date=5 August 2012 }}</ref> He continued to perform with both bat and ball at the domestic level, although his sedate pace was frequently criticized as being irrelevant at the international level. However, he impressed during the 2011–12 [[Ranji Trophy]], where he was the leading wicket-taker,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/cricket/interview/i-could-have-been-indias-best-all-rounder/20200619.htm|title='I could have been India's best all-rounder'|first=Kotian|last=Harish|date=23 June 2020|website=Rediff.com}}</ref> and his performances earned him a recall to the national side again.<ref name="espncricinfo1"/>

He was a contestant in the dance reality show ''[[Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa]]'' in 2015. Irfan Pathan made his acting debut in the 2022 Indian film ''[[Cobra (2022 film)|Cobra]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/irfan-pathan-harbhajan-singh-to-make-kollywood-entries-with-vikram-58-and-dikkiloona-respectively/article29682012.ece|title=Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh to make Kollywood entries with 'Vikram 58' and 'Dikkiloona' respectively|date=14 October 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 October 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Background and personal life==
Pathan was born 27 October 1984 in [[Baroda]], Gujarat, India and is of  [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] ([[Pathans in India|Pathan]]) ancestry, belonging to the [[Pathans of Gujarat|Pathan community in Gujarat]].<ref name="Alikuzai2013">{{cite book|last=Alikuzai|first=Hamid Wahed|title=A Concise History of Afghanistan in 25 Volumes|date=October 2013|publisher=Trafford Publishing|isbn=9781490714417|page=607|quote=Cricket is largely a legacy of British rule in Pakistan and India, and many Pashtuns have become prominent participants, such as Shahid Afridi, Imran Khan and Irfan Pathan.}}</ref> He grew up with his elder brother [[Yusuf Pathan|Yusuf]]<!-- Do not change this. Media are often lazy and don't bother to put in the "half part". Father remarried after YKP's mother died early --> in a mosque in [[Vadodara]], in an impoverished family. His father served as the [[muezzin]]. Although their parents wished them to become Islamic scholars, Pathan and his brother took an interest in cricket. In the beginning his deliveries did not reach the other end of the [[cricket pitch]], but rigorous six-hour training sessions in blazing heat and his family's sense of discipline saw him progress steadily.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Pathan had a 10-year long relationship with Australia-based Shivangi Dev.<ref name="indt1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/cricket/how-irfan-pathan-sacrificed-his-love-for-elder-brother-yusuf-9298.html|title=How Irfan Pathan sacrificed his love for elder brother Yusuf pathan|date=29 October 2013|website=Indiatvnews.com}}</ref><ref name="db1">{{Cite web|url=https://mdaily.bhaskar.com/news/TOP-irfan-pathan-love-story-5448231-PHO.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101181307/http://mdaily.bhaskar.com/news/TOP-irfan-pathan-love-story-5448231-PHO.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 November 2016|title=Irfan Pathan's Complicated Love Life that Made him Sacrifice his 10 Years of Love Affair for His Brother|date=27 October 2016|website=Mdaily,bhaskar.com}}</ref> She wanted to marry him but since Irfan wished his older brother Yusuf to get married prior, differences began to grow between the two and they broke up in 2012.<ref name="indt1" /><ref name="db1" />  He married a [[Jeddah]]-based model, Safa Baig, on 4 February 2016, in [[Mecca]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/irfan-pathan-marries-saudi-arabian-model-after-virat-kohlis-heartbreak-307732-2016-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209172421/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/irfan-pathan-marries-saudi-arabian-model-after-virat-kohlis-heartbreak/1/590520.html|url-status=dead|title=Irfan Pathan marries model Safa Baig after Virat Kohli's heartbreak|archive-date=9 February 2016|website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/irfan-pathan-trolled-for-posting-unislamic-image-with-wife-4755776/|title=Irfan Pathan trolled for posting 'unislamic' image with wife|date=18 July 2017 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718062442/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/irfan-pathan-trolled-for-posting-unislamic-image-with-wife-4755776/|archive-date=18 July 2017}}</ref> They have two sons.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 December 2021|title=Irfan Pathan Becomes Father For The Second Time|url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/irfan-pathan-becomes-father-for-the-second-time-4600781.html|access-date=28 December 2021|website=[[News18]]}}</ref>

==Early career==
Under the guidance of former Indian captain [[Datta Gaekwad]], Pathan rose to get selected in the Under-14 [[Baroda cricket team]], and when he was selected at Under-15 level to represent Baroda in a national tournament, he was finally presented with a full set of cricket equipment, having before been restricted to second-hand gear due to his family's limited economic means.<ref name="long"/><ref name="bbc youth">{{cite news|title = India back Pathan's potential|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/3244394.stm|first = Arjun|last = Sandhu|date = 28 November 2003|access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040504030649/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/3244394.stm|archive-date = 4 May 2004|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

In December 1997, Pathan broke into the Baroda Under-16 team,<ref name=o>{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=11245&opponentmatch=exact&playername=Halcombe&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=InningsList&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=&startscore=&team=&startseason= | title=Player Oracle IK Pathan | access-date=9 December 2008 | publisher=CricketArchive | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302195135/http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=11245&opponentmatch=exact&playername=Halcombe&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=InningsList&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=&startscore=&team=&startseason= | archive-date=2 March 2010 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> less than two months after turning 13. He took a total of 1/35 and scored 1 and 11 against [[Gujarat cricket team|Gujarat]] and was dropped immediately afterwards. He did not play again for the Under-16s for two years, and in November 1999, less than a month after turning 15, he made his next appearance, this time for Baroda Under-19s against [[Maharashtra cricket team|Maharashtra]]. He scored 61 and 9 and took a total of 3/41 in a victory, but was immediately dropped back to the Under-16s for the next match, and spent the rest of the 1999–2000 season there. He bowled short spells in the younger division, taking four wickets at 38.00 in six matches, averaging less than seven overs an innings. He had more success with the bat, scoring 253 runs at 31.62 including a best of 72 against [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Pathan was then selected for the India Under-15 team in mid-2000 to play a series of matches against their colleagues from other countries. He took 15 wickets at 12.66 in ten matches, including a best of 3/2 against [[Thailand national cricket team|Thailand]], and scored 15 runs at 7.50.<ref name=o/> India won all but one of the matches, most by enormous margins.<ref name=o/>

==Youth career==
At the start of the 2000–01 season, Pathan was immediately back in the Under-19s, this time bowling more, often delivering more than 20 overs per innings. In four matches, he scored 102 runs at 102.00 including a best of 63 not out, and took 10 wickets at 32.50. He was then promoted to the Under-22s, where he scored 44 and took 4/71 in his first match against [[Saurashtra cricket team|Saurashtra]], prompting the Baroda selectors to propel him into the senior team.<ref name=o/>

In 2003–04, he was then selected for India Emerging Players for a series of limited-overs matches against counterparts from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pathan took seven wickets at 11.00 in three matches, including 4/22 and 3/35 in two matches against Pakistan.<ref name=o/>

In late 2003, he was selected for the India Under-19 team to compete in an Asian youth ODI competition in Pakistan, where he was the leading bowler with 18 wickets at 7.38, with an economy rate of 3.54. This was more than twice that of the second leading wicket-taker. He was named as the player of the tournament, which India won after defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final.<ref>{{cite web|title = Asian Under-19s Tournament Bowling – Most Wickets|url = http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/OTHERS/ASIAN/STATS/ASIAN_2003_AVS_BOWL_MOST_WKTS.html|year = 2003|access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050418131104/http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/OTHERS/ASIAN/STATS/ASIAN_2003_AVS_BOWL_MOST_WKTS.html|archive-date = 18 April 2005|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Pathan was featured on the headlines when he claimed 9/16 against Bangladesh, helping to bowl them out for 34, and helped India to emerge victorious over Sri Lanka in the final, taking 3/33.<ref>{{cite web|first = Anand|last= Vasu| title= Victorious Indian Under-19 team return home to plaudits| url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/132447.html|date = 7 November 2003 |access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Pathan also scored 94 runs at 31.33 with the bat, compiling scores of 32, 28 and 34.<ref name=o/> Pathan returned to India and took 3/51 and 1/33 and scored 26 and 12 in his first Ranji Trophy match for the season, against [[Andhra Pradesh cricket team|Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=o/> This resulted in him being selected for the Indian national squad for the [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2003–04|2003–04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy]] Test series in Australia.<ref name = "bbc youth"/>

==Domestic career==
He started against [[Bengal cricket team|Bengal]] in March 2001, after fellow left-arm paceman [[Zaheer Khan]] was selected for the national team. He scored 13 not out and 2, and took 3/40 and 2/68 in a 222-run win. However, he was unable to repeat this form in the three remaining matches, taking only two more wickets in total, but Baroda nevertheless managed to win the [[Ranji Trophy]]. He ended his maiden season with seven wickets at 43.28 and 75 runs at 12.50 with a best score of 40 not out against [[Orissa cricket team|Orissa]].<ref name=o/>

The Ranji win saw Baroda qualify for the following season's [[Irani Trophy]] where they took on the Rest of India. Pathan scored 32 in the second innings and took 3/95 and 1/34 in a defeat,<ref name=o/> but his performance reminded Test batsman [[V. V. S. Laxman]] of Zaheer.<ref name=long/> However, he was omitted from the senior team and sent back to the Under-19s the next week and stayed there for the next two months, playing eight double-innings matches for Baroda. He took 20 wickets at 20.40, including a best of 6/41 against Gujarat, and scoring 190 runs at 31.66 with a best of 63 not out.<ref name=o/> Pathan was then recalled to the senior team and made his List A debut against Mumbai, taking 1/69 from nine overs. Pathan further honed his bowling at the [[MRF Pace Foundation]] in [[Chennai]], after being referred by Indian selector [[Kiran More]].<ref name="long"/>

In early 2002, he was selected for the [[2002 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand]], where he took six wickets at 27.50 and scored 30 runs at 15.00, taking 2/18 in a win over South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|title = ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2001/02 Averages|url = http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2001-02/OTHERS+ICC/U19-WC2002/STATS/U19-WC2002_JAN-FEB2002_AVS_IND-U19.html|year = 2002|access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040930201511/http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2001-02/OTHERS+ICC/U19-WC2002/STATS/U19-WC2002_JAN-FEB2002_AVS_IND-U19.html|archive-date = 30 September 2004|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Upon returning to India, Pathan was selected in a senior zonal team for the first time. He was selected for [[West Zone cricket team|West Zone]] for the [[Duleep Trophy]], even though he had not played a single match for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy season. He immediately repaid the selectors' faith by taking 4/74 and 6/72, his first ten-wicket match haul, in the first fixture against [[Central Zone cricket team|Central Zone]], setting up a 161-run win. In the next match, he took 4/72 and 3/85 as West defeated [[North Zone cricket team|North]] by 178 runs.<ref name=o/> He only took 1/55 in the next match against [[South Zone cricket team|South]] but West were through to the final, where he took 4/43 to help cut down [[East Zone cricket team|East Zone]] for 162 in the first innings, sealing the title.<ref name=o/> In all Pathan, had taken 22 wickets at 18.22 for the tournament, and scored 46 runs at 11.50.<ref name=o/>

These performances propelled Pathan into the India A team at the age of 17 and a half, for a tour of Sri Lanka, where he took six wickets at 35.00 in three first-class matches. Pathan then went on an India Under-19 tour of England in mid-2002. He took 15 wickets at 25.93 in the three youth Tests, which India lost 1–0, with a best of 4/83 in the Second Test.<ref name=o/> He then took four wickets at 42.00, conceding more than six runs an over, and scored 66 runs at 33.00 in the three youth ODIs, which India won 2–1.<ref name=o/>

Pathan was rewarded with selection in the Rest of India team that played against [[Railways cricket team|Railways]] in the Irani Trophy at the start of the 2002–03 season. He took a total of 2/84 and scored 29 as the Ranji champions prevailed.<ref name=o/> He struggled in the Ranji Trophy, taking 18 wickets at 39.33 in seven matches. Half of his wickets came in one match against [[Orissa cricket team|Orissa]] in which he claimed 6/31 and 3/46 in an innings victory.<ref name=o/> He scored 161 runs at 23.00, with a 54 against [[Tamil Nadu cricket team|Tamil Nadu]] being his maiden first-class fifty, as well as two other forties.<ref name=o/> Despite a lack of wickets for Baroda, Pathan was selected for the Duleep Trophy, playing for Elite Group A. He took 5/88 and 4/106 against Plate Group A and 4/101 against Elite Group C, before taking 3/53 and 2/42 as Elite Group A defeated Elite Group B in the final by seven wickets. Pathan ended the tournament with 19 wickets at 27.00 and scored 72 runs at 24.00.<ref name=o/> In the one-dayers, Pathan also struggled for Baroda, taking three wickets at 64.66 in four matches at an economy rate of 4.85, but he was nevertheless selected for the zonal team, where he took four wickets at 34.25 in four matches at an economy rate of 3.91.<ref name=o/>

In 2003 he was selected for the India A team which travelled to England. Playing in five first-class matches, Pathan took nine wickets at 43.77, including 4/60 against [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]] and 3/83 against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]].<ref name=o/> He managed only 8 runs at 4.00 with the bat. He had more success in the limited-overs matches, taking eight wickets at 11.12 in three matches, including a 4/19 against [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]], and scoring 27 runs at 27.00.<ref name=o/>

At the start of the 2003–04 season, Pathan played in the domestic [[Challenger Trophy]] for the first time. Representing India A, he had little success, taking two wickets at 79.00 at an economy rate of 5.85,<ref name=o/> and he did not force his way into India's limited-overs team.<ref name = "bbc youth"/><ref name=o/><ref>{{cite web|first = Anand|last= Vasu| title= Crunch time for India probables| url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/133546.html|date = 11 September 2003 |access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

In 2022, [[Bhilwara Kings]] selected him in the Legends League Cricket and gave him the captaincy and retained him for the 2023 season as well.<ref>{{cite news |title=Legends League Cricket: Bhilwara Kings retain icons Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Shane Watson for upcoming season |url=https://www.insidesport.in/sports-news/legends-league-cricket-bhilwara-kings-retain-icons-irfan-pathan-yusuf-pathan-shane-watson-for-upcoming-season/ |access-date=13 December 2023 |work=Inside Sport India |date=20 October 2023}}</ref>

==International career==
===Early years (2003–2005)===
[[File:Irfan Pathan at the Domestic Airport.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Pathan made his Test  debut in December 2003, following an injury to the Baroda left-armer [[Zaheer Khan]]]]
Pathan made his Test debut in the Second Test against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] at the [[Adelaide Oval]] in December 2003. At the age of 19, he opened the bowling following an injury to the Baroda left-armer [[Zaheer Khan]] in the First Test. In a high scoring match, he took the wicket of [[Matthew Hayden]] while giving away 160 runs at almost five runs an over.<ref>{{cite web|title = 2nd Test:Australia vs India at Adelaide 12–16 December 2003|url = http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/IND_AUS_T2_12-16DEC2003.html|year = 2003|access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061219190806/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/IND_AUS_T2_12-16DEC2003.html|archive-date = 19 December 2006|df = dmy-all}}</ref> He scored one in his only innings as India took a four-wicket victory.<ref name=o/> He was dropped for the following Test upon the return of Zaheer, but was recalled for the Fourth Test at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] after Zaheer broke down in his only spell in the Third Test. On another flat pitch, Pathan took the wickets of [[Steve Waugh]], [[Adam Gilchrist]] in the first innings in a spell of [[reverse swing]] bowling. He had Waugh caught behind from an [[outswinger]] and then bowled Gilchrist with an [[inswinger|inswinging]] [[yorker]]. He ended with 2/80 in the first innings and dismissed [[Ricky Ponting]] in the second innings to end with match figures of 3/106.<ref name = "statsgurutest">{{cite web|title = – IK Pathan – Tests – Innings by innings list|url = http://***WARNING***/guru?sdb=player;playerid=11399;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2003-12-12;start=2003-12-12;enddefault=2006-06-14;end=2006-06-14;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|date = 20 December 2006|access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the ODI tri-nation tournament against Australia and Zimbabwe that followed, Pathan was the leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets at an average of 31 in his maiden ODI series.<ref>{{cite web|title= VB Series, 2003–04 Bowling – Most Wickets| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/OD_TOURNEYS/VBS/STATS/VBS_JAN-FEB2004_ODI_BOWL_MOST_WKTS.html|year = 2004 |access-date = 21 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> After ending with 0/61 from ten overs on debut against Australia, he bounced back to take 3/64 and 3/51 in the next two matches against the World Cup holders. He earned his first international man of the match award in the tournament, after taking 4/24 against Zimbabwe at the [[WACA Ground]] in [[Perth]] in his eighth ODI.<ref name = "statsguruodi">{{cite web|title = – IK Pathan – ODIs – Innings by innings list|url = http://***WARNING***/guru?sdb=player;playerid=11399;class=odiplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2003-12-12;start=2003-12-12;enddefault=2006-06-14;end=2006-06-14;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|date = 20 December 2006|access-date = 20 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name = "statsguruodiaward">{{cite web|title = – IK Pathan – ODIs – Match/series awards list|url = http://***WARNING***/guru?sdb=player;playerid=11399;class=odiplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2003-12-12;start=2003-12-12;enddefault=2006-06-14;end=2006-06-14;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_awards;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|date = 20 December 2006|access-date = 21 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Dileep|last=Premachandran|title = India stutter to victory| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/136412.html|date = 3 February 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> However, his tour ended on a bad note after he was reprimanded by match referees for mocking the Australian batsman [[Damien Martyn]] after his dismissal in the second final.<ref>{{cite news|title = Irfan Pathan reprimanded for breach|url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/136556.html|date = 9 February 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070127211449/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/136556.html|archive-date = 27 January 2007|df = dmy-all}}</ref> In that match, he took 2/75 as Australia amassed 5/359 and crushed India by 208 runs. Pathan made 30 in the match as his team folded for only 151. His batting improved towards the end of the tour with three scores of at least 19 in his last four innings, and he ended with 86 runs at 17.20 for the tournament.<ref name=o/>

Pathan subsequently led the pace attack again on the 2004 Test tour to Pakistan, taking 12 wickets and bowling a higher proportion of [[maiden over]]s than any other bowler to help secure India's first series victory over Pakistan in two decades.<ref name="long"/> In the first innings, he bowled 28 overs and took 4/100 to help India restrict their arch-rivals to 407 and take a 268-run lead. After stand-in captain [[Rahul Dravid]] enforced the [[follow on]], Pathan tied the Pakistanis down, bowling 12 maidens in his 21 overs to end with 2/26 as India secured an innings win. Pathan then scored 49 in the Second Test in [[Lahore]] after a batting collapse of the top order, helping India to recover to 287.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/> However this was not enough as Pakistan reached 489 despite Pathan bowling 44 overs to take 3/107, and the hosts went on to complete a nine-wicket win. In the deciding Test in [[Rawalpindi]], Pathan took 2/49 and 1/35 in an innings win. He ended the series with 12 wickets at 28.50 and 64 runs at 21.33.<ref name=o/>

===Golden form===
He also continued his prolific wicket-taking in the ODIs, taking eight wickets at 17.87 at an economy rate of 4.76 in three matches, including three top-order wickets in the deciding fifth ODI in Lahore.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/><ref name = "statsguruodiseries">{{cite web|title = – IK Pathan – ODIs – Series averages|url = http://***WARNING***/guru?sdb=player;playerid=11399;class=odiplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2003-12-12;start=2003-12-12;enddefault=2006-06-14;end=2006-06-14;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_series;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|date = 20 December 2006|access-date = 21 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He also scored 36 runs at 36.00 in the ODIs.<ref name=o/> His ability to swing the ball both ways and his innings in Lahore led to speculation that he could become an all rounder.<ref>{{cite news|first= Amit|last=Varma|title = Walking the talk| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/134494.html|date = 17 April 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In recognition of his performances at the start of his international career, Pathan was named the [[ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year|ICC Emerging Player of the Year]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title = Rahul Dravid is the ICC's player of the year| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/143090.html|date = 7 September 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Pathan continued his productive form in ODIs at the 2004 Asian Cup in [[Sri Lanka]], where he was the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets at 16.28 at an economy rate of 4.37 in six matches, with three three-wicket hauls against the [[United Arab Emirates cricket team|United Arab Emirates]], Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively. He also scored 64 runs at 32.00 including a 38 in a defeat against Pakistan.<ref name=o/>

===Struggle in form===
He then struggled during an ODI tour in Europe, taking three wickets at 78.00 at an economy rate of 5.48 from five matches. India won only one of these games and lost four.<ref name=o/> Pathan returned to form during India's brief campaign at the [[2004 ICC Champions Trophy]] in England, where he claimed 5 wickets at an average of 9.00 and economy rate of 3.00.<ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/><ref>{{cite web|title= Asia Cup, 2004 Bowling – Most Wickets| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004/OD_TOURNEYS/ASIA/STATS/ASIA_JUL-AUG2004_ODI_BOWL_MOST_WKTS.html|year = 2004 |access-date = 21 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He took 2/11 against [[Kenya national cricket team|Kenya]] and 3/34 against Pakistan, but defeat at the hands of the latter ended India's campaign.<ref name=o/>

Returning to India, Pathan then represented his country at the highest level for the first time on home soil. Pathan continued to improve his batting with a defiant 31 and 55 against Australia in October 2004 in the First Test in [[Bangalore]]. This was his first half-century in Tests, and was scored after the specialist batsmen had failed. Nevertheless, he managed a total of only 2/100 and India fell to a 217-run loss. Pathan's career was put on hold after he suffered a side strain in the following Test in [[Chennai]], in which he totalled 0/68, causing him to miss the Tests in [[Nagpur]] and [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Siddhartha |last=Vaidyanathan |title = Australia win by 217 runs despite Indian resistance| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/142320.html|date = 10 October 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Pathan ruled out of Nagpur Test|  url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/142563.html|date = 18 October 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Australia went on to take the series 2–1 and Pathan ended with two wickets at 84.00 and 100 runs at 33.33.<ref name=o/> After being overlooked for the First Test with selectors opting for three spinners,<ref>{{cite news| first=Dileep|last= Premachandran| title = Short-sighted tradition|  url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/141834.html|date = 20 November 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> he returned in the Second Test against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] in [[Kolkata]], aggregating 3/89 and scoring 24 in an eight-wicket win that sealed a 1–0 series win.<ref name=o/>

===Success in return===
Pathan made his name in Tests on the December tour to [[Bangladesh]]. Swinging the ball both ways, Pathan took 5/45 and 6/51 including several [[Leg before wicket|LBW decisions]] in the First Test in [[Dhaka]] to claim his first [[ten-wicket haul]] and his first Test man of the match award as India claimed a commanding innings victory.<ref>{{cite news| title = 'The ball swings more here' – Pathan|  url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/135852.html|date = 12 December 2004|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He followed this with a match haul of 7/118 in the following match in [[Chittagong]] to take 18 wickets at 11.88 to be named as man of the series.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/><ref name = "statsgurutestseries">{{cite web|title = – IK Pathan – Tests – Series averages|url = http://***WARNING***/guru?sdb=player;playerid=11399;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2003-12-12;start=2003-12-12;enddefault=2006-06-14;end=2006-06-14;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_series;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|date = 20 December 2006|access-date = 21 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name = "statsgurutestaward">{{cite web|title = – IK Pathan – Tests – Match/series awards list|url = http://***WARNING***/guru?sdb=player;playerid=11399;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2003-12-12;start=2003-12-12;enddefault=2006-06-14;end=2006-06-14;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_awards;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype|date = 20 December 2006|access-date = 21 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> India swept the series, winning both matches by an innings. Although the Indian batsmen scored heavily, Pathan managed only five and four.<ref name=o/> He played in only one of the three ODIs against the hosts as India rotated their players, taking 1/45 and scoring 21 not out in an 11-run win.<ref name=o/>

In late 2004, the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] introduced central contracts for international players for the first time, and Pathan was given a B-grade contract. 2005 began rather poorly for Pathan. He took only six wickets at 68.33 in the home Test series against Pakistan after losing pace and accuracy.<ref>{{cite news| first=Dileep|last= Premachandran| title = A few good men|  url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/146534.html|date = 29 March 2005|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In the last two matches, he managed totals of 2/122 and 1/160, conceding more than four runs an over as the Pakistani batsmen scored heavily. He scored 64 runs at 16.00 and made a duck in the second innings of the Third Test as the hosts collapsed on the last day to squander the series 1–1.<ref name=o/>

===Ups and downs===
He was subsequently dropped for the ODI series, playing in only one match in which he conceded 67 runs without picking up a wicket in 8 overs. However, he did manage to post his first ODI half-century, scoring 64, defiantly holding up his end as India were bowled out for 213, sealing a 106-run loss.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/> [[Greg Chappell]] became the coach of the Indian team following the Pakistan series and identified Pathan as a potential all-rounder. He started to hone Pathan's batting skills, which had up to this point yielded 275 Test runs at 19.64.<ref name = "statsgurutestseries"/>
Pathan was subsequently signed by [[Middlesex County Cricket Club]] for the English country season, where he attempted to regain his form after his bad start to the year.<ref>{{cite news| title = Pathan signs for Middlesex|  url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/209320.html|date = 14 May 2005|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Pathan arrived in late-May and stayed for six weeks. He achieved better results than in the Pakistan series, taking six wickets at 24.66 and an economy rate of 5.41 in four one-dayers, including 3/42 against Essex. In the new [[Twenty20]] format, Pathan took 12 wickets at 12.75 and an economy rate of 6.37 in seven matches, including a best of 4/27 against Essex. He scored 21 not out in the same match to help seal a 31-run win.<ref name=o/> However, his difficulties in first-class matches continued. He took 4/81 and 1/68, and scored 41 and 13 not out in a productive debut against [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]], and Middlesex were only one wicket away from victory when time ran out. However, he failed to take another wicket and ended with five wickets at 64.80 and 126 runs at 63.00, scoring 68 against Surrey.<ref name=o/>

Pathan was recalled to the ODI team for the [[2005 Indian Oil Cup]] in Sri Lanka in August. This was Chappell's first series as a coach, in which Pathan played in all five matches and took 6 wickets at 33.83 at an economy rate of 4.41, but conceded 0/59 from nine overs as the hosts won the final. He scored 58 runs at 29.00 including an unbeaten 36 after India's batting collapsed in a loss to the hosts in a preliminary match.<ref name=o/>

[[File:Irfan Pathan bowling.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Pathan bowling in the nets. |alt=Young brown skinned clean shaven man wearing a blue sleeveless T-shirt with the word "SAHARA" in black, wearing dark shorts is about to deliver a white cricket ball. His left bowling arm is above his head and he is wearing white sports shoes. His leading right leg is straight while his trailing left leg is bent. He is grimacing. In the background is a white picket fence and shady green vegetation.]]

===Making history===
He showed further signs of returning to peak form in the Videocon Triangular Series in [[Zimbabwe]], taking 10 wickets at 16.10 at an economy rate of 5.03 and scored 60 runs at 30.00 in four matches. This included a haul of 3/34 and then a score of 50 as India collapsed to 164 all out and a 51-run loss to New Zealand. In another match, he took his ODI career best of 5/27 against Zimbabwe in [[Harare]] as the hosts fell for 65.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/><ref name = "statsguruodiaward"/><ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/> Despite his overall good form, Pathan was punished by the New Zealanders in the final, conceding 40 runs in five wicketless overs as India lost their second successive final.<ref name=o/> He was subsequently the leading wicket-taker as India took a 2–0 clean sweep of an away Test series against [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]]. In the First Test in [[Bulawayo]], Pathan took 5/58 and 4/53 as well as scoring 52 in a man of the match performance to help India to an innings victory. He followed this with a 7/59 haul, his Test career best innings haul, and 5/67 in the final Test in [[Harare]], his second ten-wicket match haul to set up a ten wicket victory, having also scored 32 in the first innings. He was again named man of the match, and his 21 wickets at 11.29 runs saw him named man of the series. This made him only the third bowler after [[Anil Kumble]] and [[Johnny Briggs (cricketer)|Johnny Briggs]] to take 21 wickets in a two-match series.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/><ref name = "statsgurutestseries"/><ref name = "statsgurutestaward"/><ref>{{cite news| title = Pathan: 'It has been a wonderful series for me'|  url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/219932.html|date = 22 September 2005|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Upon the team's return to India, Chappell experimented with Pathan by using him as an opening batsman in the Challenger Trophy prior to the late 2005 series against [[Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan cricket team]]. This yielded only moderate success with scores of 28 and 11 not out. Pathan took six wickets at 29.16 at an economy rate of 5.17.<ref name=o/> Pathan was subsequently used at No. 3 in the batting line-up in the First ODI against Sri Lanka in [[Nagpur]], where he scored 83 runs from 70 balls to help India post a total of 6/350.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/> Pathan also took 4/37 and 3/38 in the  second and seventh matches at [[Mohali]] and [[Baroda]] respectively to win two-man of the match awards, taking ten wickets at 25.60 at ane economy rate of 5.22 for the whole series.<ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/> He added a 35 in the final match and ended the series with 118 runs at 39.33, playing akey role in India's 6–1 triumph.<ref name=o/> Pathan continued his strong ODI form with another man of the match performance of 3/23 and a knock of 37 runs against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] in the second ODI in [[Bangalore]],<ref name = "statsguruodiaward"/> having scored 46 in the middle-order in the first match after a top-order collapse. He ended the series with six wickets at 20.33 at an economy rate of 4.69 and 83 runs at 27.66.<ref name=o/>

After scoring two consecutive ducks in the Test series against Sri Lanka, Pathan was elevated to opening in the second innings of the Second Test in [[Delhi]], after regular opener [[Virender Sehwag]] was down with illness. Having taken 3/34 from 22 overs in the first innings, Pathan scored 93 runs, building on a first innings lead of 60 to help set up a winning target of 436. In the following match in [[Ahmedabad]], he scored 82 runs and combined in a century stand with [[V. V. S. Laxman]] to revive India after an early batting collapse saw five wickets fall during the first half of the opening day. He also took seven wickets at an average of 26.00 runs in the series, which India won 2–0.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/><ref name = "statsgurutestseries"/> Pathan later admitted that he had been disappointed in failing to score a Test century.<ref>{{cite news| first=Anand|last= Vasu| title = 'I am a little disappointed not to get to a hundred' – Pathan| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/229377.html|date = 12 December 2005|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Following his strong performances in 2005, Pathan was promoted in December to an A-grade contract by the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]].<ref>{{cite news|title = Pathan elevated to top bracket, Zaheer demoted|url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/230654.html|date = 24 December 2005|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070127090902/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/230654.html|archive-date = 27 January 2007|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Pathan had another difficult start to the new year in 2006 on the Test tour to Pakistan. In the first two Test matches played on flat surfaces in [[Lahore]] and [[Faisalabad]], he had little success against the Pakistani batsmen, taking a total of two wickets while conceding 319 runs at more than four runs an over. After not getting an opportunity in the First Test—India lost only one wicket—Pathan made use of the good batting conditions himself and scored 90 in a double century partnership with wicket-keeper [[Mahendra Singh Dhoni]] in [[Faisalabad]]. Pathan found success with the ball in the Third Test in [[Karachi]], when on 29 January he became the first – and to date only – person to claim a [[Test cricket hat-tricks|hat-trick]] in the first over of a Test match.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Salati|first1=Aamir|title=Irfan Pathan birthday special: Recalling his first over hat-trick against Pakistan|url=http://www.india.com/sports/irfan-pathan-birthday-special-recalling-his-first-over-hat-trick-against-pakistan-180789/|website=india.com|access-date=28 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202073433/http://www.india.com/sports/irfan-pathan-birthday-special-recalling-his-first-over-hat-trick-against-pakistan-180789/|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Test hat-tricks|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/136977.html|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=28 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202213441/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/136977.html|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> It was also the highest in terms of total averages of the batsmen dismissed (130.18: [[Salman Butt]] 34.27, [[Younis Khan]] 46.04, [[Mohammad Yousuf (cricketer, born 1974)|Mohammad Yousuf]] 49.86) and came after 1783 Tests in the history of cricket.<ref name=statsgurutest/><ref>{{cite news| first=Trevor|last= Basevi| title = Hat-trick heroes| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/229377.html|date = 1 February 2006|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He had Butt caught by Dravid in the slips from an outswinger, before trapping Younis [[leg before wicket]] and bowling Yousuf, both with inswingers. He finished with a haul of 5/61 after the hosts staged a lower-order counter-attack but was punished in the second innings, taking 1 wicket while conceding 106 runs as Pakistan set a target which was beyond India's reach.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/> Pathan ended the series with 134 runs at 44.66 and took eight wickets at 60.75.<ref name=o/> Despite his Test travails, Pathan continued to perform strongly in the ODI arena, scoring 65 in the top order in the first ODI against Pakistan in [[Peshawar]] before making three consecutive three wicket hauls in the following matches. This included a man of the match performance that included a haul of 3 wickets for 43 runs at [[Rawalpindi]] as he claimed nine wickets at 18.88 at an economy rate of 4.49 for the series.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/><ref name = "statsguruodiaward"/><ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/> Having taken an unassailable 3–1 lead, India rested Pathan for the final match.

Pathan had a quiet series against [[England cricket team|England]] following his return to India, taking 8 wickets at an average of 39.37 runs and scoring 121 runs at an average of 24.20 runs in three Tests.<ref name="statsgurutestseries"/> Pathan scored 52 in the first innings of the Second Test in Mohali, helping India to a first-innings lead and eventually a nine-wicket win.<ref name=o/> In the Third Test, Pathan managed only 1/84 in total and scored 26 and 6 as they collapsed on the final day and ceded their series lead.<ref name=o/> Again his ODI form was unaffected, taking eleven wickets at 15.63 in five matches, and scoring 123 runs at 41.00 with the bat as India easily claimed the series 5–1.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/><ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/> Pathan scored 28 and then took 3/21 in a low-scoring 29-win in the first match, before scoring 36 and taking 4/51 in the third match in Goa. India then took an unassailable 4–0 lead by winning the fourth match, in which Pathan took 1/27 before scoring 46 in the run-chase.<ref name=o/>

=== Drop in form again ===
Pathan began to suffer a loss of form during the tour of the West Indies in May 2006, when he managed only 24 runs at 6.00 and took 6 wickets at 29.83 at an economy rate of 5.59 while bowling in the ODI arena as India lost the series 4–1. After a poor display in a tour match, in which he was hit for 70 runs in 12 overs and appeared jaded, he was dropped from the Test team as [[V. R. V. Singh]] became the third place bowler and captain [[Rahul Dravid]] scrapped the five bowler strategy. Pathan only played once in the Second Test, after [[S. Sreesanth|Sreesanth]] was sidelined due to injury. He scored 19 and took 1/43 and 1/50 as India enforced the follow on but the hosts hung on for a draw with three wickets in hand. India then selected two spinners in the last two Tests, and Pathan could not gain one of the two pace positions. Chappell stated that Pathan was fatigued and had been overworked but was confident that Pathan "would recover from his slump and rise to further heights", asserting that he was still young and learning.<ref>{{cite news| first=Anand|last= Vasu| title = 'Irfan is just 21 and still learning' – Chappell| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/255582.html|date = 14 August 2006|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Former India paceman [[Javagal Srinath]] expressed concern about Pathan's dwindling pace, but expressed that swing was the first priority in backing Pathan's return to international cricket.<ref>{{cite news| first= Kanishkaa| last= Balachandran| title = Srinath backs Pathan to come good| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/256234.html|date = 11 August 2006|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

These concerns were further magnified in late 2006, when Pathan conceded 54 runs in six overs in the first two matches of a triangular ODI tournament in Malaysia. Despite scoring 64 in the top-order in the first of these matches against the West Indies,<ref name=o/> Pathan was dropped for the rest of the tournament. He appeared to have run into some form during the Challenger Trophy when he took five wickets at 15.80 at an economy rate of 4.64 and scored 95 runs at 31.66 in three matches.<ref name=o/>

Pathan was then demoted from the position of an opening bowler in ODIs during the [[2006 ICC Champions Trophy]]; he took four wickets at 24.00 at an economy rate of 4.80, and scored only 29 runs at 9.66,<ref name=o/> as India were knocked out in the first round. Pathan was then limited to sporadic ODI appearances on the late-2006 tour to South Africa.<ref name = "statsguruodi"/><ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/> Playing in three of the five matches, he took a solitary wicket at 136.00, conceding 7.15 runs per over, the only bright spot being an unbeaten 47 as India were skittled for 163 in one match; they were whitewashed by the hosts.<ref name=o/>

Since the West Indies tour in May 2006, Pathan had only been taking wickets at 41.33. He subsequently fell out of the Top 10 of the ICC bowling rankings and the Top 5 of the All rounder rankings after having spent the previous year on the list. Despite this, Indian captain [[Rahul Dravid]] remained optimistic about Pathan's prospects, stating "The number of Man-of-the-Matches that Irfan has won is a testimony to the fact that he's a proven matchwinner for us. He takes wickets early, contributes with the bat, is good in the field."<ref>{{cite news| first= Siddhartha| last= Vaidyanathan| title= Irfan is a proven matchwinner – Dravid| url= http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/263028.html| date= 15 October 2006| access-date= 22 December 2006| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070328063028/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/263028.html| archive-date= 28 March 2007| df= dmy-all}}</ref> Despite top scoring in both innings of a first-class warm-up match in [[Potchefstroom]], scoring 111 not out and 40 not out whilst many specialist batsmen failed to cope with the bouncy conditions, he totalled only 1/49 from eight overs with the ball<ref name=o/> and was overlooked by the selectors for the First Test in [[Johannesburg]]. This indicated that although he had scored 560 runs at 35.00 under Chappell's coaching, they saw bowling, which had been steadily declining, as his primary responsibility.<ref>{{cite news| first= Dileep| last= Premachandran| title = More questions than answers| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/272074.html|date = 10 December 2006|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| first= Dileep| last= Premachandran| title = Akram to help out Pathan prior to First Test| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/272180.html|date = 11 December 2006|access-date = 22 December 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> After a poor bowling display in the subsequent tour match in which he conceded 74 runs in only 11 overs, Pathan became the first player to be sent home by the BCCI during a tour for poor performance rather than indiscipline. It was later revealed by [[Kiran More]] that it was a mutual agreement so that Pathan could play for Baroda in the final two rounds of [[Ranji Trophy]] in an attempt to regain form via match practice instead of watching the final two Tests from the sidelines.<ref>{{cite news| first= Dileep| last= Premachandran| title = Pathan sent back home| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/273871.html|date = 25 December 2006|access-date = 10 January 2007|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref name="Monga">{{cite news| first= Siddharth| last= Monga| title = Pathan looking forward to bowling' – More| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/274672.html|date = 1 January 2007|access-date = 10 January 2007|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He subsequently led Baroda to the semi-finals after scoring 82* to help defeat [[Uttar Pradesh cricket team|Uttar Pradesh]] by five wickets, but his bowling remained ineffective, returning figures of 2/108 and 1/59, conceding 4.77 runs per over.<ref name="Monga"/> Former Indian captain [[Sunil Gavaskar]] attributed Pathan's situation to mismanagement, asserting that Pathan has been "messed about" as well as insinuating foul play.<ref>{{cite news|title = Irfan Pathan has been 'messed about': Sunny|url = http://www.mid-day.com/news/2006/dec/149316.htm|date = 30 December 2006|access-date = 25 June 2009|publisher=[[Mid-Day]]|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100227160823/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2006/dec/149316.htm|archive-date = 27 February 2010|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Pathan's fortunes improved in the next two matches, totalling 5/92 and 7/96 against Tamil Nadu and Mumbai respectively.

Pathan was initially dropped for the ODI series hosted by India against the West Indies, but was recalled for the final match in his home town after claiming seven wickets against [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]] in the Ranji Trophy semi-final.<ref>{{cite news| first = Sriram| last = Veera| title = Yuvraj returns for last two ODIs| url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/277572.html| date = 25 January 2007| access-date = 22 February 2007| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070127090821/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/277572.html| archive-date = 27 January 2007| df = dmy-all}}</ref> His performance was regarded as lacklustre, taking 1/43 from seven overs.<ref name="statsguruodi"/><ref>{{cite news| first = Siddhartha |last = Vaidyanathan| title = Most questions answered| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/278439.html|date = 1 February 2007|access-date = 22 February 2007|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> The selectors persisted and named him in the squad for the [[2007 Cricket World Cup]],<ref>{{cite news|first = Anand|last = Vasu|title = Sehwag and Pathan included in squad|url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/280087.html|date = 12 February 2007|access-date = 22 February 2007|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070215075511/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/280087.html|archive-date = 15 February 2007|df = dmy-all}}</ref> but injury stopped him from playing in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, denying him an opportunity to regain form.<ref name="statsguruodi"/><ref>{{cite news|title = Tendulkar out and Pathan doubtful for final ODI|url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/280465.html|date = 16 February 2007 |access-date = 22 February 2007|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>
Pathan on his return took two wickets of the overs which he bowled. He had an impressive start as he took the wicket of [[Lendl Simmons]] as a [[Leg before wicket|Leg Before Wicket]]. For his performances in 2006, he was named in the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-awards/content/story/266801.html|title=Ricky Ponting takes top honours at glittering ICC Awards night|date=3 November 2006|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

After taking 1/12 and 3/25 in warm-up matches against the Netherlands and the West Indies in the Caribbean, Pathan did not play a match at the World Cup,<ref name="statsguruodi"/> and was among a group of players to be dropped from the squad following India's exit from the first round.<ref>{{cite web |title='We picked the best possible team' – Vengsarkar |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/287563.html |date=27 March 2008 |access-date=26 May 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709033420/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/287563.html |archive-date=9 July 2008 }}</ref> He played no part in the tours of Bangladesh and England.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pathan needs to sort out his action – Lillee |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/299903.html |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=18 July 2008 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Tendulkar and Ganguly rested for Bangladesh one-dayers| first=Anand |last=Vasu | url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/291603.html| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date=28 May 2008|date=20 April 2007}}</ref> Instead, he was sent on an India A tour of Africa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kaif to lead India A on African tour |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/301188.html |date=7 July 2007 |access-date=18 July 2008 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Two years after devastating the Zimbabwean batsmen, he played against a Zimbabwe Select XI, he took only six wickets at 30.16 in two matches, and then took eight wickets at 18.12 in two matches against Kenya. India won all four matches, and Pathan scored 87 runs at 21.75.<ref name=o/> Pathan then took six wickets at 23.83 and scored 93 runs at 31.00 in four one-dayers.<ref name=o/>

===Strong comeback===
With India's older players opting out of the inaugural [[World Twenty20]], Pathan was one of several younger players to regain national selection. India were not expected to do well in a format that favoured stronger fielding sides.<ref>{{cite web| title=Generation X| first=Dileep |last=Premachandran | url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/309199.html| publisher=ESPNcricinfokutre=2008-05-28|date=7 September 2007}}</ref> In the first match, he scored 20 and took 2/20 in four overs as India tied with Pakistan in the first round, before winning in a bowl-out. He then took 0/16 as India lost to New Zealand before taking 3/37 in a defeat of England. India needed a win over hosts South Africa to reach the semi-final and Pathan conceded only 16 runs from his four overs, helping to restrict the hosts to 9/116 in pursuit of 154. Pathan then took 2/44, removing [[Brad Hodge]] and [[Andrew Symonds]] as India managed to defend 188 for a 15-run win to reach the finals. India faced arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. Pathan was declared the Man of the match after bowling a tidy spell and taking 3/16, including the removal of [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] captain [[Shoaib Malik]] and then the big-hitting [[Shahid Afridi]] for a [[Duck (cricket)|duck]] in the space of three balls, before later bowling [[Yasir Arafat (cricketer, born 1982)|Yasir Arafat]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/287879.html |title=ICC World Twenty20 – final India v Pakistan |access-date=22 July 2008 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724124622/http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/287879.html |archive-date=24 July 2008 }}</ref>

As a result of his performances in South Africa, Pathan was recalled to the ODI team and played in the home series against Australia and Pakistan in late 2007. He played in all 12 matches, seven against Australia and five against Pakistan. Pathan scored 131 runs at 18.71 in the lower-order and took 12 wickets at 46.00 at an economy rate of 5.02, averaging substantially worse than his overall career statistics.<ref name = "statsguruodiseries"/> It was a steady performance; Pathan never took more than two wickets in any match and his economy rate was always between 4.60 and 6.66 and scored 26 and 29 in consecutive matches in Baroda and [[Rajkot]] against Australia before making 43 in the final match against Pakistan.<ref name=o/>

With India opting to field two spinners and two pacemen on turning tracks in the home Test series against Pakistan in late 2007, Pathan missed the first two Tests as Zaheer and [[R. P. Singh|Rudra Pratap Singh]] were the fast bowlers chosen. In the meantime, he took 11 wickets at 23.81 and scored 90 runs at 30.00 in two Ranji Trophy matches. Injury to both Zaheer and Singh in his colleagues resulted in his recall for the Third Test at Bangalore. Pathan scored his maiden Test century, reaching the mark with a [[six (cricket)|six]] from [[leg spin]]ner [[Danish Kaneria]] to move from 96 to 102 with only last man, paceman [[Ishant Sharma]] left to accompany him, before holing out in the same over.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ganguly and Pathan pile on the agony for Pakistan| first=Dileep |last=Premachandran | url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/324489.html| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date=21 July 2008|date=9 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Pathan proves a point| first=George |last=Binoy | url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/324586.html| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date=21 July 2008|date=9 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Pathan, VRV and Ishant drafted in| work=Cricinfo| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/323852.html| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date=21 July 2008| date=5 December 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207221536/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/323852.html| archive-date=7 December 2007| df=dmy-all}}</ref> He made 21 not out in the second innings but was unpenetrative with the ball, taking a total of 1/110 as the tourists hung on for a draw.<ref name=o/>

Pathan gained selection for the 2007–08 tour of Australia, but did not play in the first two Tests with only two pacemen chosen. Zaheer and Singh were the first-choice pace duo before the former was injured and replaced by Ishant, who had taken five wickets in the first innings of the Bangalore Test. With the Third Test held on the bouncy [[WACA Ground]] in [[Perth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/331100.html|title=India face uphill task in the Wild West|first=Siddhartha|last=Vaidyanathan|date=15 January 2008|access-date=22 July 2008|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314200239/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/331100.html|archive-date=14 March 2008}}</ref> Pathan replaced second spinner [[Harbhajan Singh]].<ref name="swing">{{cite web |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/331630.html |title=India turn the tables |first= Sambit |last=Bal| date=17 January 2008 |access-date=22 July 2008 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/331633.html |title=India's young fast-bowling trio have a field day |first=Siddhartha |last=Vaidyanathan |date=17 January 2008 |access-date=22 July 2008 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302195929/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/331633.html |archive-date=2 March 2008 }}</ref> He batted well with scores of 28 and 46 respectively. His second innings performance came as a [[nightwatchman (cricket)|nightwatchman]] in order to shield other batsmen from the [[new ball]] late in the second day. After entering at the fall of the first wicket, he batted for more than two hours and was the sixth man to fall. Pathan rediscovered his ability to swing the ball,<ref name="swing"/> taking 2/63 and 3/54, including both Australian openers in each innings, having the hosts two wickets down in both innings before 50 runs had been scored. He had four of his victims caught behind the wicket off an edge and trapped [[Chris Rogers (cricketer)|Chris Rogers]] lbw. India won by 72 runs and Pathan was recognised with the man of the match award.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/><ref name = "statsgurutestseries"/><ref name = "statsgurutestaward"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/291353.html |title=Border-Gavaskar Trophy – 3rd Test Australia v India |access-date=22 July 2007 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117044506/http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/291353.html |archive-date=17 January 2008 }}</ref>

After his batting displays in Perth, Pathan was promoted to open the batting in the Fourth Test in Adelaide, replacing the struggling [[Wasim Jaffer]] and thereby allowing Harbhajan to return in a five-bowler attack. In a high-scoring match, Pathan took 3/112, but he struggled with the responsibility of opening, scoring nine and a duck.<ref name = "statsgurutest"/><ref name = "statsgurutestseries"/> In a high-scoring match, he took 3/112 in Australia's 563.Following the Test series, he top-scored with 26 as India were skittles for 74 in the one-off T20 international. Pathan held his place in the ODI team and played all 10 matches in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, scoring 118 runs at 19.66 mostly in the lower order and taking 11 wickets at 34.27 at an economy rate of 5.49.<ref name="statsguruodiseries"/> His best performance was a 4/41 against Australia at Adelaide to help restrict the hosts to 203 but India then collapsed to a 50-run loss.<ref name="statsguruodi"/> His top-score of 31 in the series came in partnership with captain [[Mahendra Singh Dhoni]] in the closing stages of a successful and tense run-chase against Sri Lanka. Pathan struggled in the two finals against Australia, taking three wickets at 39.00 at an economy rate of 7.46 but his teammates did enough to ensure a 2–0 win.<ref name=o/>
An extra bowler backfired as the batsmen struggled. Pathan top-scored with 21* in India's first innings of 76 on the first morning and was again unbeaten in the second innings with 43.  However, he failed to take a wicket and conceded 85 runs in only 21.2 overs in an innings defeat, and was omitted from the next Test.<ref name="statsgurutest"/> After the South Africa series, Pathan participated in the [[2008 Indian Premier League]], having been purchased by the [[Kings XI Punjab]].

He took 15 wickets at 23.33 at the economy rate of 6.60 runs per over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ipl/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=3519;type=tournament |title=Most wickets Indian Premier League, 2007/08 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623080141/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ipl/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=3519%3Btype%3Dtournament |archive-date=23 June 2008 }}</ref> His most effective performance came when he added an unbeaten 24 and took 2/18 from his four overs to help Punjab to a nine-run win over the [[Kolkata Knight Riders]]. He scored 131 runs at 21.83 and added 40 in a failed run-chase against [[Chennai Super Kings]].<ref name=o/>

===Back on the fringes===

Following the IPL, Pathan resumed international duties in the Kitply Cup and the [[2008 Asia Cup]]. He had an unproductive time with the ball; although he scored a total of 86 runs at 28.66, he took seven wickets at 51.42 at an economy rate of 6.56.<ref name="statsguruodiseries"/> Pathan was overlooked for the Tests in Sri Lanka but was called into the team for the one-dayers, but played in only three of the five fixtures. He took three wickets at 34.66, conceding 5.20 runs an over, and struggled with the bat, scoring 19 runs at 6.33 as the Indian batting collapsed in each match.<ref name=o/> He was then included in an India A team for a series of matches against touring counterparts from New Zealand and Australia. He had average results, taking four wickets at 43.75 and an economy rate of 4.86, and scored 56 runs at 18.66 in four games.<ref name=o/> He did better the Challenger Trophy, taking six wickets at 14.00 at an economy rate of 3.42, and scored 71 runs at 35.50 as India Blue won all three matches.<ref name=o/>

At the start of the first-class season, Pathan scored 56 but took a total of only 1/91 for the Board President's XI against the touring Australians ahead of the Test series, and he was overlooked for Test selection as India used only two pacemen. He returned to play for Baroda in the [[Ranji Trophy]].<ref name=o/> He played in four matches and performed strongly, taking 26 wickets at 16.03 and scored 166 runs at 33.20. He started the season with 6/85 and 1/34 in a draw against [[Uttar Pradesh cricket team|Uttar Pradesh]], and then took 4/42 and 1/46 against Railways. He then put on an all-round display to guide his team to a victory over Maharashtra. Pathan took 5/64 and then scored 51 as Baroda made 305 in their first innings to take a 77-run lead. After taking 1/61 in the second innings, he scored an unbeaten 50 to guide Baroda to their target of 227 with four wickets in hand. In his final Ranji fixture for the season, he took 7/35 in the first innings to help dismiss Andhra Pradesh for 77, setting up an innings win.<ref name=o/> However, with India persisting with and tasting success with their Test bowling strategy, Pathan was also overlooked for the home Tests against England. Pathan's domestic season was interrupted by spasmodic limited overs duty. Following his recent uneconomical run in ODIs, he was not given a game in the seven-match series against England in November until India had taken an unassailable 4–0 series lead. He took 0/57 from ten overs in the fifth match, as India recorded another victory, but did not get another opportunity after the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|Mumbai terrorist attacks]] saw the two remaining fixtures cancelled. Pathan was then selected for the early-2009 five-match ODI tour of Sri Lanka, but was not entrusted with a match until India took an unbeatable 3–0 lead. He took four wickets at 28.25 in two matches, but was again expensive, conceding 7.06 runs an over.<ref name=o/> However, he ended the tour on a high note when he combined with half-brother Yusuf in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand that saw India to a three-wicket win in the T20 international after a late flurry; Irfan ended on 33 not out.<ref name=o/> Pathan returned to India and took 3/50 and scored 51 not out in his only domestic one-dayer for Baroda during the season, which ended in a win, before leaving for the limited overs leg of a tour to New Zealand.<ref name=o/>

Pathan had a poor time in New Zealand. In the two T20 internationals preceding the ODIs, he took 0/38 and 2/41, conceding his runs at an alarming economy rate of 11.28. He was left out of all five ODIs during the tour before heading home.<ref name=o/> He then played in all 14 of Punjab's round-robin matches in the [[2009 Indian Premier League]] held in South Africa, taking 17 wickets at 22.94 with an economy rate of 7.74, and scored 196 runs at 19.60. He started strongly, taking nine wickets in four matches in the early stages of the tournament, before taking only two in the next five matches, and ending with six in the last three fixtures. Punjab failed to make the semi-finals.<ref name=o/>

Pathan's performances in the IPL were enough for him to retain his position in the national T20 team after his performances in New Zealand, and he then proceeded to the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20]] in England in June, where India were seeking to defend their title. He struggled in the warm-up matches, totalling 1/49 in five overs, and again in the first round of matches, bowling five overs and conceding 42 runs without success. Nevertheless, India defeated both Bangladesh and Ireland to move into the next round. He took 1/9 from two overs in the loss to the West Indies in the Super 8 round, and was left out for the remaining two matches, which India lost to be eliminated.<ref name=o/>

Since then, Pathan was dropped from the limited overs team and was then injured for an extended period, until he made his return to cricket in the Ranji Trophy in November. He played in six matches for Baroda as captain and was successful with both bat and ball, scoring 397 runs at 49.62 and taking 22 wickets at 18.54. In his most productive first-class season with the bat, Pathan made starts in eight of his nine innings, only failing to reach 24 once, and scoring four fifties, although he was unable to convert any to triple figures. In his fourth match of the season, Pathan top-scored in both innings with 68 and 81 as Baroda lost to Karnataka by an innings after making 153 and 223. He then took a total of 7/76 and scored 65 not out to secure a seven-wicket win over Saurashtra, and then totalled 7/96 in a seven-wicket triumph over Maharashtra.<ref name=o/> However, these performances were not enough to earn Pathan a Test recall. Furthermore, on 25 February 2010 the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its list of 30 probables for the T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies, the most notable omission being Irfan Pathan.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/t20-world-cup/Injured-Irfan-Pathan-is-left-out-of-T20-World-Cup-probables/articleshow/5617372.cms | work=The Times of India | first1=Dwaipayan | last1=Datta | title=Injured Irfan Pathan is left out of T20 World Cup probables | date=26 February 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301172815/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/t20-world-cup/Injured-Irfan-Pathan-is-left-out-of-T20-World-Cup-probables/articleshow/5617372.cms | archive-date=1 March 2010 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
[[File:Irfan Pathan bowling (ODI).jpg|350px|thumb|Irfan Pathan taking his run-up in an ODI against Australia in 2012]]
Pathan took 5/100 in the first innings of the [[Duleep Trophy]] final against South Zone. His fifth wicket brought up his 300th scalp at first-class level.<ref name=o/> After cricket was engulfed in a series of corruption scandals in September 2010, Pathan told the media that he had received "three expensive gifts in his room" and, later, two further gifts that he could not afford. Pathan reported this to the team management as he thought the gifts might be from a  [[bookmaker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geo.tv/9-17-2010/71527.htm |title=Irfan Pathan claims receiving expensive gifts from a stranger |publisher=GEO.tv |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=20 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921023525/http://geo.tv/9-17-2010/71527.htm |archive-date=21 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/BCCI-admits-Pathan-approached-by-a-stranger/articleshow/6572339.cms | work=The Times of India | title=BCCI admits Pathan approached by a stranger | date=17 September 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918092443/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/BCCI-admits-Pathan-approached-by-a-stranger/articleshow/6572339.cms | archive-date=18 September 2010 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Comeback and knee injury 2011===
Irfan Pathan was recalled for India's ODI squad for last two matches of five match one-day series against West Indies in December 2011,<ref name="callback">{{cite web |title=Irfan keen to take full advantage of recall |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/west-indies-in-india-2011-12-irfan-pathan-keen-to-make-use-of-chance-543921 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207090553/http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-west-indies-2011/content/story/543921.html |archive-date=7 December 2011 |access-date=12 December 2011}}, Irfan keen to take full advantage of recall.</ref> and played in last match of the series, picking the wicket of first ball.<ref name="firstball">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-west-indies-2011/content/image/544886.html |title=Irfan Pathan is mobbed by his team-mates after striking with his first ball. Cricket Photo. |access-date=12 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117111812/http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-west-indies-2011/content/image/544886.html |archive-date=17 January 2012 }} striking with his first ball, India v West Indies, 5th ODI, Chennai, 11 December 2011</ref>

He was selected for the Commonwealth Bank Series, playing four games and scoring 96 runs at an average of 24 with a top score of 47. He also succeeded in taking 6 wickets at an average of 31.16; his best figures were 3/16. His strong performances led to his inclusion in the Asia Cup squad. He played three matches and did not get a chance to bat but he proved himself with the ball taking 4/32 in the first match of the series against Sri Lanka. He picked up two more wickets in the next two games. He was the part of the team touring South Africa for the one T20 played on 31 March 2012 where he had figures of 4–0–44–1 but was yet to bat. Pathan also played for the [[Delhi Daredevils]] the [[Indian Premier League]] in 2012, taking only 8 wickets from 17 matches with an average of 58.12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iplt20league.com/ipl_5/most_runs_conceded.html |title=IPL 5 Most Runs Conceded by Bowler, IPL 5 Most Runs Given by Bowler Record |publisher=IPL T20 League |access-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702204652/http://www.iplt20league.com/ipl_5/most_runs_conceded.html |archive-date=2 July 2012 }}</ref>
BCCI announced on 13 July 2012 inclusion of Irfan Pathan in the Indian team for the tour of Sri Lanka as a replacement to the injured [[Vinay Kumar]].<ref>{{cite news | url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-sri-lanka/top-stories/Irfan-Pathan-to-replace-Vinay-Kumar-for-Sri-Lanka-series/articleshow/14865189.cms | title= Irfan Pathan to replace Vinay Kumar for Sri Lanka series | date= 14 July 2012 | work= The Times Of India | url-status= live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120714052656/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-sri-lanka/top-stories/Irfan-Pathan-to-replace-Vinay-Kumar-for-Sri-Lanka-series/articleshow/14865189.cms | archive-date= 14 July 2012 | df= dmy-all }}</ref> With his all round performance, India managed to win four of the five ODIs and the lone T20 match in the next series in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/interviews/The-speedometer-doesnt-bother-me-Irfan-Pathan/articleshow/15413304.cms |title= The speedometer doesn't bother me: Irfan Pathan |date= 9 August 2012 |work= The Times Of India |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120810013308/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/interviews/The-speedometer-doesnt-bother-me-Irfan-Pathan/articleshow/15413304.cms |archive-date= 10 August 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> Pathan emerged as the top wicket taker with a [[five-wicket haul]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=7330;type=series |title=Cricket Records. Records. India in Sri Lanka ODI Series, 2012. Most wickets. |publisher=Stats.espncricinfo.com |access-date=6 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728020648/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=7330;type=series |archive-date=28 July 2012 }}</ref>

Pathan was a part of the Indian squad for the [[2012 ICC World Twenty20|2012 ICC World Twenty20 tournament]] in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2012/content/series/531597.html |title=ICC World T20 2012. Live cricket, T20 schedule, Twenty20 scores on ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104134700/http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2012/content/series/531597.html |archive-date=4 November 2012 }}</ref> In the [[Ranji Trophy]] 2012–13 opener against Karnataka, Pathan raised his First-class top-score to 121 with his 3rd domestic hundred.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-domestic-2012/engine/current/match/574028.html |title=Group B: Baroda v Karnataka at Vadodara, Nov 2–5, 2012. Cricket Scorecard |work=Cricinfo |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105031307/http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-domestic-2012/engine/current/match/574028.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 }}</ref> But, he injured his knee during match and only made comeback to cricket in March 2013. In 2014 he was picked up by [[Sunrisers Hyderabad]] to play in the [[Indian Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SRH Team|url=http://www.sunrisershyderabad.in/team|publisher=Sunrisers Hyderabad|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215224804/http://www.sunrisershyderabad.in/team|archive-date=15 February 2014}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
Irfan Pathan retired from all forms of cricket in January 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/111613/irfan-pathan-retires-from-all-forms-of-cricket |title=Irfan Pathan retires from all forms of cricket |work=Cricbuzz |date=4 January 2020 |access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=World T20 winner Irfan Pathan retires from professional cricket |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/world-t20-winner-irfan-pathan-retires-from-professional-cricket-1211951 |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

==Beyond cricket==
===Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa===
Pathan was a contestant on the [[Colors TV]] popular dance show [[Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa]] for the 8th season, in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cricketer Irfan Pathan to enter 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded' as a wild card entry|date=25 July 2015 |url=http://www.news18.com/news/movies/cricketer-irfan-pathan-to-enter-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-reloaded-as-a-wild-card-entry-1025357.html|publisher=Sahil|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508135829/http://www.news18.com/news/movies/cricketer-irfan-pathan-to-enter-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-reloaded-as-a-wild-card-entry-1025357.html|archive-date=8 May 2016}}</ref> He impressed many people with his dancing skills, staying until he quit in the 6th week on 22 August 2015.

=== Cricket Academy of Pathans ===
The Cricket Academy Of Pathans was jointly launched by Irfan Pathan and [[Yusuf Pathan]]. The academy has tied up with former Indian coach  [[Kapil Dev]] and Cameron Tradell as chief mentors. Chappell would coach the coaches of the academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/pathan-brothers-launch-cricket-academy-of-pathans/|title=Pathan brothers launch Cricket Academy of the Pathans|date=11 September 2014|work=The Indian Express|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001092542/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/pathan-brothers-launch-cricket-academy-of-pathans/|archive-date=1 October 2015}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Pending films key}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"
! scope="col" |Year
! scope="col" |Film
!Role(s)
! scope="col" |Language
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
|2003
|''Jab Chaye Mera Jaadoo''
|colspan="1" rowspan="4" |Himself
|colspan="1" rowspan="4" |[[Hindi movie|Hindi]]
|Short film
|-
|2004
|''[[Mujhse Shaadi Karogi]]''
|Special appearance
|-
|2005
|''Oye Bubbly''
|Short film
|-
|2008–present
|''[[Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah]]''
|Special appearance
|-
|2022
|[[Cobra (2022 film)|''Cobra'']]
|Aslan Yilmaz
|[[Tamil movie|Tamil]]
|Debut lead role film
|<ref>{{Cite news|author=TNM Staff|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vikrams-next-ajay-gnanamuthu-titled-cobra-motion-poster-out-114769|title=Vikram's next with Ajay Gnanamuthu titled 'Cobra', motion poster out|date=25 December 2019|work=[[The News Minute]]|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref><br /><ref>{{Cite news  |date=14 October 2019 |title=Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh to make Kollywood entries with 'Vikram 58' and 'Dikkiloona' respectively |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/irfan-pathan-harbhajan-singh-to-make-kollywood-entries-with-vikram-58-and-dikkiloona-respectively/article29682012.ece |access-date=16 October 2019 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{ESPNcricinfo|id=32685}}
{{Good article}}

{{ICC Emerging Player of the Year}}
{{Man of the Match in ICC World T20 Final}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pathan, Irfan}}
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