IPL 2018: Didn't Expect a Bid in IPL Auction - Irfan Pathan

Before the start of 2017/18 season, Baroda appointed Irfan Pathan as the captain for the season.

However, just after two games, he got replaced by Deepak Hooda as the leader and was also dropped from the side.

He remained on sidelines, and neither made it to the T20 nor the List A side.

In short, he played just two games in the season and him going unsold in the IPL auction wasn’t a surprise. In fact, his name didn’t even come up for auction during the two-day process. Irfan is not surprised by this.

The all-rounder, during ‘Gameplan in your city‘ event, said he would not have picked himself if he were the owner of a franchise,

“I have not played first-class cricket this season; courtesy whatever happened in Baroda cricket. If I were the owner of an IPL team, I would not have picked myself. Now, I want to be in an environment where I can enjoy my cricket. Things can change then. This year, I was expecting whatever happened at the auctions.”

Last year as well, he went unsold, despite being part of West Zone in the inter-zonal tournament.

Later though, he was roped in by Gujarat Lions as a replacement for injured Dwayne Bravo. He had just played one match in IPL 2017.

Once a regular member of playing XI in IPL, Irfan’s presence in playing XI dwindled after coming to Chennai Super Kings. He didn’t get even a single game in IPL 2015.

Next year, he went to Rising Pune Supergiant, where MS Dhoni was again the captain of the side. In IPL 2016, he had played four games. Irfan would be hoping to well in the next season to make a comeback in the T20 league.

Making his Test debut way back in 2003 in a Test against Australia in Adelaide, Irfan went onto play 29 Tests.

He is still the only bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over of a Test match. He had also played 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is. The left-arm pacer was the part of the T20 side that won the World Cup in 2007. His last international appearance came way back in 2012.

The chances of him making a comeback to the national side are quite slim but a good season can bring him back in the reckoning.

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