Irfan Pathan, 31, has played only four matches for his new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in this IPL 2016. But he warmed the bench for most of the matches. RPS captain MS Dhoni for an unknown reason never paid heed to Irfan Pathan when his team was demanding for a good bowler and a lower middle order batsman.
Irfan started his career in 2003 with a buzz during India’s tour of Australia. But after a good series against Australia and Pakistan, he started fading away under the coaching of Greg Chappell who tried to mould Irfan as an allrounder. Chappell’s attempt made Irfan confused and took a toll on his body. He suffered injuries due to the pressure. During these ups and down, Irfan lost his bowling charm. He was dropped from the team. But Indian selectors found him good for T20 cricket so he was picked up for 2007 and 2012 World T20 cricket.
In IPL, he is a regular face. The Baroda bowler spent his first three years with Kings XI Punjab. His wicket taking ability made him a great weapon for a captain. But injuries didn’t allow him to triumph in competitive cricket.
After recovering from injury Irfan joined Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2012 and 2013 and then moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2014.
Irfan started dreaming about India comeback with his domestic cricket performance. But his dream started fading away once again as Indian are have many untried bowlers. In 2015, he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings. But Captain Dhoni ignored the talented swing bowler who once made India proud India with a hattrick. Fans were dejected in seeing a utility player was carrying the drinks during the match and meeting the demand of autographs seeking fans at the boundary lines.
After the IPL 2015 Irfan came back in domestic cricket where he triumphed with both bat and ball, but Indian selectors and captain Dhoni didn’t pick him when Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra and Harbhajan Singh made a comeback. Irfan before the selection hoped that BCCI selection committee may call him for the T20 World Cup at home as he thought his domestic cricket performance would talk on his behalf.
The dream was broken and pain of not getting selected is another instance of politics Indian cricket is grappled with over the years.
In 2016 IPL auction when Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings were banned for two years as their team owner and team principal were found guilty in spot-fixing. So Pathan got a new employer in Rising Pune Supergiants where Dhoni become the captain. Inform Irfan was once again ignored that provoked many fans to criticise Dhoni, who is himself out of form. In this IPL, Irfan played only four matches and conceded only 61 runs. with zero wickets to his name But Dhoni didn’t think Irfan would be his key weapon. Captain’s decision, Indian selectors’ constant ignorance forced a talent to lost the plot.
Irfan now doesn’t know what to do next and how to go ahead in his life. Once Mohammad Kaif, one of India’s great match winner and fielder, said that it is very difficult for a player to motivate himself to play in domestic cricket after enjoying the taste of success with the national team. Irfan has to endure this pain and in the upcoming days probably he has to endure more until a regime gets over.
Irfan a talent is washed away, but will never fade from the minds of ardent Indian cricket fans. How could one forget when Irfan on a foggy morning in Faisalabad ripped part Pakistan top order to register a hattrick and in th process becoming the first Indian pace bowler?