Irfan Pathan reveals his favourite IPL franchise

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan had been a key player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its beginning in 2008. Having played for multiple franchises over a decade-long career, Pathan recently revealed his favorite IPL team. While his playing career saw him don several jerseys, it is Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) that hold a special place in his heart.

Pathan’s IPL career spanned from 2008 to 2017, during which he represented Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiant (defunct team) and Gujarat Lions (defunct team). His most successful stint was with Punjab, where he played from 2008 to 2010, picking up 47 wickets in the first three seasons and contributing with 603 runs. Overall, in 103 games, he bagged 80 wickets and hammered 1139 runs. Meanwhile, when asked about his favorite IPL team, Pathan was quick to name Punjab Kings as his most cherished franchise.

"My favourite IPL team is Punjab Kings, because that was the first team I represented in IPL, I still have memories playing with that team. Preity Zinta was an incredible owner, even the other owners were amazing and kind. I had a fun time playing for them for the first three years. They were also going to pick me in the fourth edition, but lost the bet to Delhi Capitals and fought hard for me till the end. That is one team I love," the former said on his Youtube channel.

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The emotional attachment to the Punjab franchise remains strong even today for Pathan, as he believes they have the potential to perform well in IPL 2025. He even named them as the ‘dark horse’ of the tournament and backed Shreyas Iyer’s team to qualify for the playoffs.

Furthermore, the 40-year-old also holds huge respect for other IPL franchises. He specifically mentioned Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru for their strong team cultures and fan bases.

"I also have immense respect for Chennai, that is because of the way they work around their players. Their culture is very strong despite the wins or losses. Mumbai Indians is another team I have immense respect for, they nurture young talents, and lastly I like Royal Challengers Bengaluru because they have incredible fans. Their fan army is always there to support their team. My one commentary line is very famous, which goes like, 'If you get the same loyalty as RCB fans, then you can win any battle," the southpaw added.

The former all-rounder also acknowledged his love for Kolkata Knight Riders due to his brother, Yusuf Pathan, having played for them and the franchise being led by Gautam Gambhir under whom they won titles.

"I also like KKR because, my brother (Yusuf) used to play from there, Shahrukh Khan is their owner and Gautam Gambhir was also part of them. These 4-5 franchises are close to my heart," Pathan concluded.