5 reasons why we still miss Irfan Pathan

Not many would have witnessed as many ups and downs as Irfan Pathan did in his career. Having made his Test debut just at 19 back in 2003, a young all-rounder from Baroda had raised a lot of expectations. He was hailed to be the next ‘Kapil Dev’ following some brilliant performances early on in his career. Pathan’s biggest strength was swing back then. He had the ability to move the ball both the ways and miles apart. Further, his claim in the India set-up was ever more strengthened with his skill with the willow in hand. Those straight batted shots, which often bailed the team out of troubles, were a delight to watch. However, as he progressed ahead in his career, the injuries got the better of the man. His pace fell which resulted in the swing not creating as much impact as it did earlier. These injuries, which Kapil Dev always managed to escape miraculously, turned out to be a bane for the younger Pathan. Hence, he was never really able to reach his full potential. Although he staged a few comebacks here and there, he never looked to be the Irfan Pathan of the old. As this all-rounder turns 34 today, let us have a look at five reasons as to why Team India still misses having a player like him. 1. The swing king for India Irfan Pathan. Irfan Pathan, as mentioned earlier, can swing the ball a long way. Be it the white ball or the red ball, he tends to be absolutely lethal when he is on the full throttle. His hat-trick against Pakistan was one of the finest exhibition of swing bowling. Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf didn’t have an answer to his swing. In the current crop of bowlers for India, except for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the other bowlers do not swing the ball as much as Irfan used to do. They rely more on the variations. Pathan could be a nice option to have in the Indian lineup at the moment given that he is a left-arm bowler and could be ideal for the English conditions next year in the World Cup. His contributions with the bat would also be invaluable. 2. Impact that he has made Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Irfan Pathan has represented India in 29 Tests. In just 54 innings, he has picked 100 wickets for the side. The 34-year-old has picked seven 5-wicket hauls and received the ‘Man of the Match’ award on four occasions. He was equally impactful in the ODIs as well where he has picked 173 scalps in 120 matches. The fast-bowler has impressed and inspired many players to take up swing bowling. Also, he is more than capable with the bat. With over 1,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs, he has got the ability to shift gears and add some valuable runs to the team’s total. Irfan is also flexible enough to bat anywhere in the batting order as per the requirement of the team. In just 173 international games, he has picked up 301 wickets for India. 3. An all-rounder India has always craved for Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Kapil Dev, India’s most premier all-rounder retired all the way back in 1994. Since then, India didn’t find a genuine all-rounder for about the next 10 years. There were various options that were tried out but no one provided the solution to this long-sought problem. It was during this period that Irfan Pathan has emerged onto the scene. He was expected to fill the shoes of the big man. Pathan did justify his role in the side for a good amount of time. He was definitely the all-rounder that India have always craved for. Even now, after all these years, team India hasn’t found the best of all-rounders. Hardik Pandya just seems to be filling up this role at the moment. 4. Fans favourite Irfan Pathan. (Photo Source: CricTracker) Irfan Pathan has got a huge fan base, even though he hasn’t played for India for a while. Right since he made his debut, there was a huge hype about his skill and talent. The current Jammu & Kashmir cricketer has rightly backed up all the hype with his performances. Irfan loves the fans as much as they do. He tries to spend the time with the fans and well-wishers whenever possible. Being the jovial character that he is, fans enjoy having a word with their favourite cricketer. He is a warm person and a loving personality. 5. The man for the big occasions Irfan Pathan at the launch of CAP Morbi, Gujarat. (Photo Source: CricTracker) Irfan Pathan has got out some of his best performances while playing on the biggest of stages. He is a calm person and doesn’t let the pressure take over his nerves. Hence, he has been able to thrive in difficult situations. In the inaugural edition of the T20I World Cup, Irfan Pathan didn’t disappoint the fans. He snapped up 10 wickets in the tournament at an average of 14.90. In the final, he picked up 3 for 16 and was the ‘Man of the Match’. Some of his other fine performances include the 3rd Test against Australia at Perth. India won that game by 72 runs. Pathan picked 5 wickets in the game and scored 74 runs. Get the latest Cricket News and updates from India vs West Indies series, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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5 reasons why we still miss Irfan Pathan

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