Imran Tahir, the experienced international cricketer known for his vigorous celebrations and good leg-spin bowling. He was born 27 March 1979 and plays as a South African, even though he’s from Pakistan. He debuted for his country as an already 30-year-old, highlighting never to give up on their dreams because they can come true at any age in the world of professional sport. He developed into one of the most effective wicket-taking spinners in limited-overs cricket across his career, particularly ODIs and T20Is. It is his sharp googlies, subtle variations and fearless attitude which made life difficult for the world’s best batsmen. Tahir, who has also been one of the valuable performers in T20 leagues including IPL.
| Personal Information | Details |
| Name | Imran Tahir |
| Age | March 27, 1979 (46 years) |
| Birth Place | Lahore, Punjab |
| Height | — |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm legbreak |
| Country | South Africa |
Imran Tahir’s Bowling Career Stats
Imran Tahir’s career bowling figures reveal that he is one of the most attacking leg-spinners in contemporary times. In the course of his international career, he has scalped over 150 wickets in the ODIs and more than 90 T20I scalpings including a knack for breaking crucial partnerships for South Africa. With sharp googlies, top-spinners and an attacking mindset, Tahir always had even the best of batsmen in trouble. His economy rates in shorter formats of the game illustrate his ability to regularly take wickets while maintaining an element of control. He also produced his A-game in domestic cricket, as well as in the IPL, where he developed into a pressure bowler and as match-winner for whom the team was growing increasingly dependent on.
Test Format Stats
It was a short but eventful Test career for Imran Tahir. He played a few games for South Africa, and displayed leg-spin that included some lovely variations and sharp turn. Not a Test regular, his wickets tended to be those of key players at key moments and he proved that he was able to get the best out even the top batters in difficult circumstances.
| Details | Test |
| Match | 20 |
| Innings | 37 |
| Balls | 3925 |
| Runs | 2294 |
| Wickets | 57 |
| Average | 40.25 |
| Economy | 3.51 |
| Strike Rate | 68.86 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 5/32 |
| Best Bowling Match | 8/130 |
| 5w | 2 |
| 10w | 0 |
ODIs Format Stats
Imran Tahir has been an enforcer for the Proteas in ODIs taking more than 150 wickets at a brilliant strike rate. His leg-spin with a beautiful variation was always hard on the batsmen. But Tahir, who sometimes has a knack of breaking partnerships at vital times, is one of the more efficient limited-overs spinners and he’s up there with his economy rate while taking wickets.
| Details | ODIs |
| Match | 107 |
| Innings | 104 |
| Balls | 5541 |
| Runs | 4297 |
| Wickets | 173 |
| Average | 24.84 |
| Economy | 4.65 |
| Strike Rate | 32.03 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 7/45 |
| Best Bowling Match | 7/45 |
| 5w | 3 |
| 10w | 0 |
T20I Format Stats
Imran Tahir has also been a huge asset for South Africa with his leg-spin artistry in T20Is. An economy rate below 6.30 and over 90 wickets, consistently breaking partnerships and controlling the middle overs. Deceptive googlies, top-spinners and a fierce on-field demeanour make him a constant wicket-taking threat – enough to make him one of the most successful spinners in T20 cricket.
| Details | T20I |
| Match | 38 |
| Innings | 38 |
| Balls | 845 |
| Runs | 948 |
| Wickets | 63 |
| Average | 15.05 |
| Economy | 6.73 |
| Strike Rate | 13.41 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 5/23 |
| Best Bowling Match | 5/23 |
| 5w | 2 |
| 10w | 0 |
IPL Format Stats
The leg-spinner has been a revelation with the white-ball in the IPL taking more than 150 wickets across all seasons. Clever variations and sharp googly makes him wicket-taking bowler, he is a partnership breaker who controls the middle overs. Tahir’s economic bowling and exuberant celebrations have made him a darling of the crowds, and his performances have had a tendency to flip closely contested matches in his team’s favour.
| Details | IPL |
| Match | 59 |
| Innings | 59 |
| Balls | 1316 |
| Runs | 1703 |
| Wickets | 82 |
| Average | 20.77 |
| Economy | 7.76 |
| Strike Rate | 16.05 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 4/12 |
| Best Bowling Match | 4/12 |
| 5w | 0 |
| 10w | 0 |
Imran Tahir’s Batting Career Stats
Imran Tahir’s stats in his playing career suggests he is a bowler at best and not much of a batsman. In international formats, he has mainly batted in the lower order, with emphasis laid more on supporting established batsmen than quick scoring of runs. His Test, ODI and T20I averages may not have been anything to boast of, but Tahir sometimes played useful cameos under pressure. Batting for him was straightforward and defensive with the back of his mind being to occupy the crease and rotate the strike. Hardly ever did he get to exhbit his batting talent in domestic & T20 leagues; [and] His major contributions always came with the bat.
Test Format Stats
In the Tests, Imran Tahir didn’t get many opportunities but he made an impact in his limited appearances as a bowler with leg spin. He took key wickets with his sharp turn and changes of pace, particularly on subcontinent surfaces. He had a brief Test career, but his strike rate and match-winning spells demonstrated he was no rookie at that level.
| Details | Test |
| Match | 20 |
| Innings | 23 |
| Runs | 130 |
| Ball Faced | 235 |
| Highest Score | 29 |
| Average | 9.29 |
| Strike Rate | 55.32 |
| NO | 9 |
| Fours | 18 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| 50s | 0 |
| 100s | 0 |
| 200s | 0 |
ODIs Format Stats
In One Day International (ODI) cricket, Imran Tahir emerged as a significant wicket-taker for South Africa. Best known for his guileful googlies and hawk-like line and length, he took over 150 wickets with both efficiency as well sting. Tahir frequently made a crucial breakthrough, getting immense value in limited overs wins, to emerge as one of the most intimidating leg-spinners in ODI history during his time.
| Details | ODIs |
| Match | 107 |
| Innings | 36 |
| Runs | 157 |
| Ball Faced | 225 |
| Highest Score | 29 |
| Average | 7.85 |
| Strike Rate | 69.78 |
| NO | 16 |
| Fours | 21 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| 50s | 0 |
| 100s | 0 |
| 200s | 0 |
T20I Format Stats
Imran Tahir has proved himself as one of the most attacking leg-spinners in the world in T20 Internationals. The owner of sharp googlies and amazing celebrations, he always picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs, at times literally turning such matches in South Africa’s favour. His performances have been underpinned by impressive economy and strike-rates in T20Is.
| Details | T20I |
| Match | 38 |
| Innings | 4 |
| Runs | 19 |
| Ball Faced | 18 |
| Highest Score | 9 |
| Average | 19 |
| Strike Rate | 105.56 |
| NO | 3 |
| Fours | 1 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| 50s | 0 |
| 100s | 0 |
| 200s | 0 |
IPL Format Stats
Imran Tahir has been a linchpin in the IPL with flamboyant celebrations and knack of picking up wickets. Playing for different teams, he has more than 150 wickets and a healthy economy rate. His subtle variations of googly, top-spinner has made him a bankable match-winner, particularly in the death overs and he commands respect in the corridors of T20 League.
| Details | IPL |
| Match | 59 |
| Innings | 9 |
| Runs | 33 |
| Ball Faced | 37 |
| Highest Score | 13 |
| Average | 8.25 |
| Strike Rate | 89.19 |
| NO | 5 |
| Fours | 5 |
| Sixes | 0 |
| 50s | 0 |
| 100s | 0 |
| 200s | 0 |
Imran Tahir’s Bowling Career Stats
Imran Tahir’s career bowling figures reveal that he is one of the most attacking leg-spinners in contemporary times. In the course of his international career, he has scalped over 150 wickets in the ODIs and more than 90 T20I scalpings including a knack for breaking crucial partnerships for South Africa. With sharp googlies, top-spinners and an attacking mindset, Tahir always had even the best of batsmen in trouble. His economy rates in shorter formats of the game illustrate his ability to regularly take wickets while maintaining an element of control. He also produced his A-game in domestic cricket, as well as in the IPL, where he developed into a pressure bowler and as match-winner for whom the team was growing increasingly dependent on.
Test Format Stats
It was a short but eventful Test career for Imran Tahir. He played a few games for South Africa, and displayed leg-spin that included some lovely variations and sharp turn. Not a Test regular, his wickets tended to be those of key players at key moments and he proved that he was able to get the best out even the top batters in difficult circumstances.
| Details | Test |
| Match | 20 |
| Innings | 37 |
| Balls | 3925 |
| Runs | 2294 |
| Wickets | 57 |
| Average | 40.25 |
| Economy | 3.51 |
| Strike Rate | 68.86 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 5/32 |
| Best Bowling Match | 8/130 |
| 5w | 2 |
| 10w | 0 |
ODIs Format Stats
Imran Tahir has been an enforcer for the Proteas in ODIs taking more than 150 wickets at a brilliant strike rate. His leg-spin with a beautiful variation was always hard on the batsmen. But Tahir, who sometimes has a knack of breaking partnerships at vital times, is one of the more efficient limited-overs spinners and he’s up there with his economy rate while taking wickets.
| Details | ODIs |
| Match | 107 |
| Innings | 104 |
| Balls | 5541 |
| Runs | 4297 |
| Wickets | 173 |
| Average | 24.84 |
| Economy | 4.65 |
| Strike Rate | 32.03 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 7/45 |
| Best Bowling Match | 7/45 |
| 5w | 3 |
| 10w | 0 |
T20I Format Stats
Imran Tahir has also been a huge asset for South Africa with his leg-spin artistry in T20Is. An economy rate below 6.30 and over 90 wickets, consistently breaking partnerships and controlling the middle overs. Deceptive googlies, top-spinners and a fierce on-field demeanour make him a constant wicket-taking threat – enough to make him one of the most successful spinners in T20 cricket.
| Details | T20I |
| Match | 38 |
| Innings | 38 |
| Balls | 845 |
| Runs | 948 |
| Wickets | 63 |
| Average | 15.05 |
| Economy | 6.73 |
| Strike Rate | 13.41 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 5/23 |
| Best Bowling Match | 5/23 |
| 5w | 2 |
| 10w | 0 |
IPL Format Stats
The leg-spinner has been a revelation with the white-ball in the IPL taking more than 150 wickets across all seasons. Clever variations and sharp googly makes him wicket-taking bowler, he is a partnership breaker who controls the middle overs. Tahir’s economic bowling and exuberant celebrations have made him a darling of the crowds, and his performances have had a tendency to flip closely contested matches in his team’s favour.
| Details | IPL |
| Match | 59 |
| Innings | 59 |
| Balls | 1316 |
| Runs | 1703 |
| Wickets | 82 |
| Average | 20.77 |
| Economy | 7.76 |
| Strike Rate | 16.05 |
| Best Bowling Inning | 4/12 |
| Best Bowling Match | 4/12 |
| 5w | 0 |
| 10w | 0 |
Imran Tahir’s Career Information
Imran Tahir, who was born on 27th March 1979 in Pakistan, scripted an exceptional cricket story while playing for South Africa. He played for his country late, yet turned into one of the more superior leg-spin bowlers in limited-overs cricket. The rumbustious Tahir, no stranger to extravagant celebrations or vehement physical demonstrations of intensity with ball in hand, succeeded due to his guile and variations, cleverly disguised googlies and top-spinners which made him a threat around the world. Outside the world of international cricket, he was a star in T20 leagues, particularly the IPL, where he produced match-winning efforts with 4-over spells. His commitment, experience and thoughtful approach to his bowling have gained him admirers as a player and coach all around world cricket.
| T20 debut | vs Sri Lanka, Aug 02 at 2013 at R.Premadasa Stadium |
| Last T20 | vs Sri Lanka, Mar 19 at 2019 at Newlands |
| Test debut | vs Australia, Nov 09 at 2011 at Newlands |
| Last Test | vs India, Dec 03 at 2015 at Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Odi debut | vs West Indies, Feb 24 at 2011 at Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Last Odi | vs Australia, Jul 06 at 2019 at Emirates Old Trafford |
| Ipl debut | vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, May 10 at 2014 at Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Last Ipl | vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Apr 25 at 2021 at Wankhede Stadium |
