Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan was born to Mehmood Khan Pathan and Samimbanu Pathan in Baroda on 17th November 1982. He has a younger brother, Irfan Pathan who is also a cricketer. Yusuf Pathan married a physiotherapist, Afreen Khan in 2013 and he was blessed with two sons with her.

Yusuf Pathan, known for his prowess on the cricket field, has been nominated to contest from the Baharampur constituency by The All India Trinamool Congress. He has started campaigning for the same very enthusiastically.

He is a hard-hitting batsman and offspinner suited to the shorter formats, began his cricket journey when he was selected for the Baroda Under-16 team in the Vijay Merchant Trophy in 1999-2000. His consistent performances swiftly propelled him to the Baroda U-19 and the West Zone U-19 sides. Making his Ranji Trophy debut against Saurashtra in 2001-02, he gradually established himself in the Baroda squad by the 2004-05 season, ending as their fourth-highest scorer and third-highest wicket-taker.

In the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy, Pathan showcased his ability to score quickly, boasting the highest strike rate among batsmen with a minimum of 200 runs. His stellar performances in the one-day Deodhar Trophy and the Twenty20 domestic tournament earned him a spot in India's squad for the inaugural World T20 in South Africa.

The pinnacle of Pathan's career came during his stint with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in 2008. His remarkable performance, including 435 runs at a strike rate of 179, earned him an ODI call-up for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan. Pathan's prowess with the bat, notably recording the fastest fifty of the IPL's inaugural season, solidified his reputation as a powerhouse performer. His contributions were instrumental in Rajasthan Royals clinching the IPL title.

Despite facing fluctuations in form and being dropped from India's limited-overs squads, Pathan delivered remarkable performances domestically. Notable among these was his unbeaten double century in the 2010 Duleep Trophy final, a match that saw West Zone seal the highest first-class chase ever.

Pathan's international career peaked with a blistering century against New Zealand in December 2010, aiding India in chasing down 316 runs. Although he struggled to maintain consistency, his aggressive style and ability to clear the ropes made him a valuable asset in the limited-overs format. His IPL journey further solidified his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in cricket, with memorable innings such as his 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians in 2010.

While Yusuf Pathan's international appearances ceased after March 2012 due to poor form, he continued to excel in domestic cricket and the IPL. Known for his uncanny ability to accelerate innings in the slog overs, Pathan remains a celebrated figure in the cricketing world for his explosive batting style and game-changing performances.