Yusuf Pathan completes a unique hat-trick of IPL titles

Yusuf Pathan hits a shot against KXIP in the final in Bangalore

On Sunday, Yusuf Pathan won his 2nd IPL trophy in 2 years, and his 3rd overall, becoming the first cricketer to win 3 IPL trophies, featuring in the winning XI. Yusuf was an important contributor in Rajasthan Royals’ inaugural season title, and has gone on to win it with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and 2014.

In the final, after Kings XI Punjab scored 199/4, he hit a crucial 22-ball 36 for KKR, keeping the momentum provided by Manish Pandey alive. Having come under criticism for his prolonged no-show ever since joining KKR, Yusuf played some brute innings for his side at the business end of this season, including a 22-balll 72 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which pushed his team to No.2 in league stages, ahead of Chennai Super Kings.

"I am very proud of the way the team performed today. I am glad for this win and yes, hope I have made my family proud by being part of an IPL win thrice,” he said after the match. “I think I made pulses race when I got out. I could have finished the match earlier.”

Yusuf ended the tournament with 268 runs in 12 innings – at an average of 29.77 and a strike rate of 162.42.

Manvinder Bisla has also been part of three IPL title winning squads. He won two with KKR and won one with the now defunct Deccan Chargers back in 2009 when he wasn’t a regular member of the playing XI.