Mohammad Kaif burst into India’s competitive cricket scene at a young age and instantly his athleticism caught the eye.

Although his early international career was marred with difficulties despite the occasional outstanding performance, he was an instrumental figure in his nation’s first Under-19 World Cup triumph in 2000. Many fans may also recall how he helped India chase down 326 with 87 off 75 balls in the 2002 NatWest Series Final.

In the forthcoming year, he became the first non-wicketkeeper to make four catches in a single World Cup campaign.

In domestic cricket, he was Uttar Pradesh’s star player and often considered as one of India’s finest fielders during his prime years, famously spearheading their successful Ranji Trophy campaign in 2006 before helping them reach the finals in 2008 and 2009 thanks to a formidable partnership with Yuvraj Singh.

More sport star birthdays on this day:

1939: Lee Trevino, American World Golf Hall of Fame inducted who the Open in 1971 and 1972 as well as the US Open twice (77).

1948: Neil Warnock, the English manager presently at Cardiff City also coached sides such as  Sheffield United, Leeds and Crystal Palace (68).

1963: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lankan cricketer who captained his nation’s 1996 World Cup-winning team (53).

1964: Salvatore Schillaci, the Italian striker was instrumental in his country’s 1990 World Cup campaign where he also won the competition’s Golden Boot (52).