OTD| Former Irish all-rounder Kevin O’Brien was born in 1984

Former Ireland cricketer Kevin O’Brien is celebrating his 40th birthday today. He has a special place in the hearts of cricket fans in Ireland. It is his ability to stand up in the face of adversity and fight back that made him a memorable figure in the history of Irish Cricket. 

Kevin O’Brien broke into international cricket in 2006 when he played his first One-Day international match in 2006 against the traditional rivals England at Belfast. In almost a couple of years, he also represented Ireland in T20I cricket. O’Brien played his maiden T20I against Scotland in August 2008. He soon became an integral part of the Irish batting unit and rose to prominence. The young Irishman was also effective with his bowling skills and developed himself into a utility player. 

A night in Bangalore

Whenever the journey of Ireland cricket will be remembered, a night in Bangalore will always be accorded a special mention. That night changed Irish cricket forever and the architect of that victory was none other than Kevin O’Brien. Ireland clashed against England in the group stage of the 2011 ODI World Cup in Bangalore. The Irish team was chasing a humongous target of 328 runs in the second innings. The task seemed impossible at the start but Kevin O’Brien was determined to script history. He smashed 113 runs off 63 deliveries to lead his team in the run chase. Eventually, Ireland won the match by completing the run chase in the last over. Kevin O’Brien’s legacy will be defined by this one historic knock in Bangalore. 

He played 153 One-Day internationals and 110 T20Is for Ireland along with 3 Tests. Throughout his decade-long career, he remained an important part of the squad. Kevin O’Brien hung up his boots in 2022 when he announced his retirement from international cricket. Ireland cricket has a long way to go and in that arduous journey figures like Kevin O’Brien will act as a perpetual source of inspiration. 

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