Irfan Pathan: India's demolition man

Critics the world over feel Irfan Pathan is the most prodigious talent to have emerged in recent times, an opinion shared by ICC.

Irfan Pathan could well be termed the smiling assassin.

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Voted the best new talent of the year by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the ever-smiling Pathan made rapid strides during 2004 to establish himself as India's number one opening bowler ahead of the more experienced ones.

Pathan, easily the most improved cricketer in the team, has captured 32 wickets in nine Tests since making his debut against Australia at Adelaide in December 2003, with 18 of them coming against Bangladesh in two Tests that fetched him the Man of the Series award.

The 20-year-old's USP is his huge in- and away-swingers that even the best of batsmen have found it difficult to negotiate, whether in India, Australia, Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Even the ICC recognised what the critics the world over have been saying - that Pathan is the most prodigious talent to have emerged in recent times - and conferred on him the Emerging Player of the Year award in September.

The left-arm bowler's opening spells, containing his most lethal out-swinger, have been deadly and have given India a flying start in most of the 10 Tests that he has played so far.