Boria Majumdar
It’s now more than two decades since Irfan Pathan announced himself as an all-rounder of genuine promise. Though he couldn’t quite live up to the early potential, he still played a huge part in India winning the first T20 World Cup in 2007. Now a commentator with coaching ambitions, Irfan spoke exclusively to Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, about coaching and mentoring youngsters, his own playing journey and the prospects of Kohli, Rohit and Shami making it to World Cup 2027.
Boria: Tell us a bit about the side of Irfan Pathan that makes time out of his busy schedule to help youngsters make a comeback, helps them get IPL contracts and much more? And what it means to you.
Irfan: Boria Bhai, it’s not like only I do this. A lot of cricketers do it as we are a cricketing community. If you get a call as a cricketer and someone says they need help, then you try to sort it out. One makes time because time is priority. I don’t think any of the cricketers would say no and would make time for helping others.
Now, not talking about this in the media is a conscious choice because if the one who came for the help eventually grows, then that is the biggest thing for me. When someone has financial security and family et cetera, then people don’t go towards the media frenzy. They don’t want people to talk about it. Like, when there is a camp in Baroda, a lot of guys would come and would take a picture, but I do not post any. What’s important is that the person coming here for help gets things sorted. I myself tell them that if you come, don’t tell anyone anything about this. We have to think from the player’s point of view, not from our point of view. What matters is which stage of the career you are in, as I have also gotten help from other guys like TA Sekar(Thirumalai Ananthanpillai Sekar). He has helped me during 2007. I have great respect for that and we have a great relationship. Rashid Patel, Mehdi Shaikh, Basir Shaikh – all these guys have helped me out and I think it just goes like a chain.
Boria: Khaleel (Ahmed) was part of the Indian team in the past and you have now helped him make his comeback. Do you think he has the potential in him to play for India consistently?
Irfan: Arshdeep (Singh) is our No. 1 bowler in white-ball cricket and there is no doubt about it. But after Arshdeep, if we must talk about someone who has the skill – and as a left-arm fast bowler, you need a few things like the ability to bowl around the speed of 135-140 (kmph), swing the ball both ways, bowl bouncers – Khaleel ticks all these boxes, and is now improving more. He has improved his slow bouncer, his seam position is better, and he has improved his fitness as well. So, he has all the potential to play at his peak, which is right now, and the next 4-5 years. It’s all about being in the right place, at the right time, and performing in crucial situations. He had a really good season with CSK and being there as well does help. Hopefully, he’ll be able to make it really big within the next 5 to 6 years.
Boria: Do you see Virat (Kohli) and Rohit (Sharma) for the 2027 World Cup? Where do you stand on this as someone who had a long career himself?
Irfan: Along with Virat, Rohit, I would also like to talk about Mohammed Shami, who has been a tremendous match-winner. So, for these three cricketers, the only challenge would be to play regular cricket. Otherwise, they are all outstanding. I am myself 41 years old, and play 2 to 3 leagues. I’m giving my example because I’m playing 3 leagues a year, and my challenges are that I do not bowl too much because of retirement. So, say, I play one in November, one in June-July, and then one in October, so stop and start is the main issue for me. My work anyway is more about broadcasting and coaching now, but when it’s time to play, it’s not too regular for me. In these situations, it’s difficult to keep your body working.
Talking about these professional cricketers, whose only focus is to play cricket for now, the biggest challenge for them would be playing regularly and staying fit. Virat is going to play IPL only, and then whenever there is first-class cricket, but just to play and not to prove anything. So, continuing the game time will not be an easy task. T20 has taken over and one-dayers have taken a backseat, so number of matches has gotten changed in both. World Cup 2027 won’t be a challenge if continuity of the game time is handled. Unfortunately, there will be pressure on them.
I’ve spoken to Rohit Sharma and he’s very keen about fitness. Then Virat, I am sure is very keen as well with the way he has been seen practising in England. I have also seen a statement from Mohammed Shami which says that he’s very very keen too. The keenness is important from the player’s point of view, so this is a great thing about them – that they are in touch and working on their fitness as well. If I’m looking at things as a broadcaster, I think the game time they get on a regular basis will decide their presence in World Cup 27.
Boria: In my opinion, Virat has the fitness and Rohit is showing it as well. So, if they have the hunger, I feel that they can continue beyond Australia. I would like to get your quick thoughts on that.
Irfan: I really think that should be the case, and I hope that the communication has been very clear. Knowing Gautam (Gambhir) and Ajit (Agarkar), I think they will make it very clear in terms of communication. And as I said, having game time regularly will keep away all sorts of challenges. If you’re talking about 2027, that challenge will be there because they’re not playing for India currently. After, say, three games against Australia and IPL, if there is a big gap, then the continuity breaks.
Boria: Reflect on your journey, from where you were and where you are?
Irfan: Boria Bhai, they still say that cricket is a very costly sport, so a lot of times, youngsters who do not have access to a lot of money give up. I would like to say this to them: do not give up. Facilities will be provided in the long run if you keep working hard. If you keep shedding your sweat on the ground, it will give you 10 times more, just like in the case of farmers. As 10-year-old kids, we (Irfan and Yusuf Pathan) used to go to Baroda Sports Club taking a 40-minute walk, and always used to be the first ones at the ground. We did the matting, put the nets and would then be the last ones to leave as well after practice. There used to be big lights on the ground put up by the government, under which we used to do our practice.
Hitting the ball on the wall, doing light knocking, was a part of our regular practice and somehow, in our hearts, we knew that to achieve a lot we will have to do a lot. From walking to getting a cycle, to a bike to a car, has only made us reach the ground more and more quickly. I would like to say to all youngsters that you must work hard very hard, improve your skills. Most importantly, think about the guy next to you, no matter which level you are playing. It’s my belief that it will take your growth to a different level. Do not forget that even if you’re in a competition.
Also, in our case, parents have been very supportive without which we couldn’t have done anything. They ran a family of five with just ₹3500 a month. My fee for Baroda Sports Club used to be Rupees 25 a month and then fee for shoes, clothes etc. was also there. We have immense respect for our parents for trying to bear it all. I remember, when we used to play club matches, we used to carry a banana for snack. Sometimes, maybe once a month, mom would make food for the whole team and bring, which was just rice and vegetable porridge. That gave us immense inspiration, thinking that if our parents can do that for us working so hard, then we will have to work harder. There is no other option.
We were lucky that two of us brothers got to play together, and that really helped in many ways. Overall, I don’t see the journey as struggle, I see the journey as some exciting times. If you take a wicket, the happiness doesn’t stay for too long, but the happiness and excitement of journeys like this stays forever. You’re talking about my journey today because you and my fans have lived that journey with me – the struggles of wearing second-hand shoes, stitched torn shoes and all of it.
Boria: Do you wish to coach Team India at some point?
Irfan: Oh yes, definitely, because I like seeing growth happen. Sitting back and watching growth happen, being involved in that, is something that gives me a lot of fun. I would like to share something here, that I really liked the coaching style of John Wright. When I first came into the Indian team, he used to work very hard, keep everyone very tight, get involved a lot amongst other things. I have seen better in technical terms of coaching, but his style is something else. It was all about the players, managing everything from behind. That whole thing used to give me a lot of excitement. So, yes, in the future, when the time comes, why not? It will happen for sure.
Boria: It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to talk to Irfan Pathan on National Sports Day. Thank you very much for joining me.
You can read part 1 of the interview here.
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Read the first part of the interview here A RevSportz Exclusive “Captain Shubman being helped by batsman Gill was a great thing to happen” – Irfan Pathan says the time has come for one all-format leader
Find part 2 of the interview below
🚨 Irfan Pathan Exclusive: Part 2
From mentoring youngsters to dreaming of coaching India, Irfan Pathan opens up on cricket, life, and legacy.
He also shares his candid views on the futures of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Shami.@BSV_Global @BoriaMajumdar… pic.twitter.com/UiBzH2ZSn6
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