I Still Remember His Words: Irfan Pathan Credits Former Indian Captain For Inspiring Him To Take Up A Role With Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Team

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shed light on his sporting hero while growing up. Irfan Pathan, who was amongst the best left-arm pace bowlers, has also underlined that his sporting hero was the one, who inspired him to take up a role with Jammu & Kashmir cricket team. The 35-year old retired from international cricket earlier this year.

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Irfan Pathan named former Indian captain Kapil Dev as his idol while growing up. Kapil Dev as arguably one of the best all-rounders not only produced by India but was also the part of the elite quartet alongside Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, and Ian Botham. By guiding India to their inaugural World Cup win in 1983, he ushered a new era in the Indian team.

It was in 2017-18 as Irfan Pathan was on the cusp of taking up a role with Jammu & Kashmir, Kapil Dev was also present in that meeting with the J&K officials. In the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, he played nine matches and took 19 wickets and scored 463 runs.

“In 2017-18, when I was about to take up the role with Jammu & Kashmir, Kapil paaji was in that meeting with the J&K officials,” Pathan told ESPN Cricinfo.

The Haryana Hurricane advised Pathan that if his motive is to do something for his country, the only way it is to join the J&K cricket team. Helping the youngsters in that territory would not only be a cricketing assignment but a massive service to the nation.

“I still remember his words, “If you genuinely want to do something for the country, stop thinking about playing all those leagues and take Jammu & Kashmir cricket in your hands. Help the youngsters out there. It won’t be just a cricketing assignment but a service to the nation,'” he added.

If anyone wanted to be an all-rounder in India, there was no better role model: Irfan Pathan

The Baroda cricketer added by saying that he looked up to Wasim Akram being a left-arm seamer but none eclipsed Kapil Dev. Irfan labelled him as a match-winner across all facets and a role model for all the youngsters in the country aiming to be an all-rounder.

“Wasim Akram inspired me a lot during my career, but I don’t think there was a bigger sporting hero than Kapil Dev when I was growing up. He was captain of the side, a match-winner with the bat, and he swung the ball. If anyone wanted to be an all-rounder in India, there was no better role model,” the 35-year old asserted.

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