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Player Profile: Imran Tahir

jatinhotaPosted for Everyone to comment on, 4 years ago3 min read

Imran Tahir is a Pakistani-born South African cricketer. He plays for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, South Africa in T20Is. Tahir took seven wickets in an ODI making him the first South African to attain such an honor. He set a new record by joining Surrey in 2019 which represents his eighth English county club. Mahir is widely known for his infamous running celebration after every wicket he picks.

Career

Tahir moved through the United Kingdom, from Pakistan because of a woman he loved. He moved to South Africa. He played for an IPL team, English counties, and South African franchises and thereby made a good reputation for one of the most prominent players.

In January 2010, during the South African's home series against England, he was called to join the South African squad. Later on, it was discovered that Tahir was not eligible to play for South Africa during that time so the decision was overturned. He then returned to the domestic circuit and consistently took wickets in the 2010-11 season and at that time, he also became a citizen of South African. Finally, he was collected in South Africa's squad for the one-dayers against India just less than a week after he gained citizenship by naturalization. He made an impact thereby becoming the second runner up in the wicket-taker at the close of the South African tournament.

Tahir stayed out of contention in all formats until October 2013, during South Africa's tour to the UAE. He also played against his former countrymen during the tour. Tahir was opportune to take his first Test five-for in Dubai but at the end of the day, it earned him a temporary place. Instead, he carved a personal niche using the shorter formats, where he showed and displayed much more control with his craft. Tahir gained a reputation for being able to contain the middle-periods of matches while also taking wickets, and his increase came coincidentally with South Africa's limited-overs recovery, especially after the 2015 World Cup. Tahir was very effective in the 20-over format and by April 2016, he had risen to the second position on the ICC bowler rankings and started attaining heights in the various positions.

Style of play:-

He is a right-handed batsman and spin bowler who is mostly known for bowling googlies. Tahir is always determined to get to the peak no matter what seems to come up as a distraction.

He turns his googly more than his leg-spin and he is famously known for that. It is said that Tahir can become an even better bowler if he adds this one dimension to his style of bowling.

Conclusion:-

Tahir Imran will always be among the best premium spinners that South Africa has ever produced. Though he is aging, his zeal and enthusiasm for the game are unparalleled. When he leaves, his celebration of running from one end to the other end of the ground after taking a wicket will be greatly missed. He is the oldest cricketer to play in the 2019 World Cup.

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