Former India All-Rounder Irfan Pathan Talks About Career End and Captain’s Influence on Playing XI

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan was considered a vital asset for the Indian cricket team during a period when the side struggled to find quality fast bowlers and genuine all-rounders. His ability to open the bowling with pace and swing, coupled with his batting skills lower down the order, made him a versatile player who could fit into various team combinations. Between 2004 and 2009, Pathan was a consistent presence in the national side, contributing both with the ball and with the bat in crucial situations. His performances in ODIs, Tests, and T20s often turned matches in India’s favor, and he was widely praised for his capacity to swing the ball both ways while maintaining control in limited-overs cricket. However, with the emergence of younger talents and changing team dynamics, Pathan gradually found it increasingly difficult to retain his spot, eventually leading to his exclusion from the national team.

Reflecting on his career, Irfan revealed that despite his consistent performances, he felt unfairly dropped from the team. He candidly stated that after the kind of contributions he made, no other player would have been dropped for at least a year. His most memorable performance, alongside his brother Yusuf Pathan, came in a match against Sri Lanka where India chased down 60 runs in just 27-28 balls, securing a thrilling victory. “I was dropped from the team in 2009 when we were in New Zealand. Before that, my brother and I had won matches in Sri Lanka. In the situation in which we won, if there was someone else in our place, he would not have been dropped from the team for a year,” Irfan explained in an interview with The Lallantop.

He also spoke about his experience during India’s tour of New Zealand, where he was left out of the playing eleven multiple times. “I was benched in the first match, second match, and third match. The fourth match was drawn due to rain. I was not even in the last match. I then asked Gary sir why I was dropped. If I needed to improve something, he could have told me, but I wanted to know the reason,” he said. Irfan’s frustration highlights the challenges players often face when communication between the team management and cricketers is unclear or lacking.

Pathan further revealed that the ultimate decision on the playing eleven rested with the captain. “Kirsten told me two reasons. He said, ‘Some things are not in my hands.’ When I asked whose hands it was, he did not clarify. I already knew in whose hands it was. Playing XI is decided by the captain’s choice. I will not comment on whether that decision was right or wrong because every captain has the right to manage the team his way,” he said. This statement underlines how team selection in cricket is often influenced by the captain’s strategy and preferences, sometimes leaving talented players sidelined.

Another reason provided by Kirsten, according to Irfan, was the search for a batting all-rounder at number seven. “My brother was a batting all-rounder, while I was a bowling all-rounder. Both were different, but there was room for only one in the team. Nowadays, people would happily take both,” he remarked. This shows how team compositions and the value of multiple all-rounders have evolved over time, reflecting modern cricket’s strategic flexibility. Irfan’s insights offer a glimpse into the complexities behind team selection, the importance of player roles, and the personal challenges he faced during the later stages of his international career.