Hailing from Baroda, Gujarat, Irfan Pathan was considered as India's next best all-rounder to Kapil Dev, during his early days in international cricket. Modelling his action on Pakistan's swing king, Wasim Akram, Irfan swung the ball both ways and troubled almost every batsman at his peek.
The left-handed all-rounder made his first-class debut during the 2001-02 season and he had a good impact on the national selectors straightaway. In fact, at a tender of 19, he got a national call-up for the tour of Australia and he made his international debut in the famous second Test at Adelaide in December, 2003, in which India made history by winning a Test match on Australian soil, after 23 long years.
