Irfan Pathan Sends A Message To The Upcoming Generation Of Cricketers

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has offered a piece of advice to the U-19 cricketers and the challenges that lie ahead. Irfan Pathan spoke to Jatin Sapru on the Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected and described the challenges that lie ahead for them so that they can stay focussed and deliver to their potential.

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One of Irfan Pathan’s most notable performances came as an 18-year old. The left-arm seamer travelled to Pakistan in 2003 to play an ODI against Bangladesh. Not only did Irfan shone with the ball but also with the bat.

The Baroda cricketer contributed 28 runs with the bat as Bangladesh was all-out for 148 runs. Nevertheless, he hit back with three wickets as India won by ten runs in the end.

Irfan Pathan pointed out that there have been many U-19 players, who disappear after featuring in its World Cup. And as soon as they burst into the international age, they fail to live up to the expectations.

“We have seen so many Under-19 India players who vanish after playing the U-19 World Cup. They don’t end up fulfilling their potential at the international level which they might have,” Pathan conceded.

The competition level isn’t the same at the U-19 level, first-class level and at the international level: Irfan Pathan

The retired cricketer further said that one needs to follow a set process and mentality to reach a higher level. Pathan remarked that at the U-19 level, a player needs to keep on upgrading as a player. At the same time, being level-headed is essential since the competition also keeps on changing at the U-19, first-class, and international level.

“Also, we have so many cricketers playing the U-19 World Cup and then going on to play for India. In between, there is a bridge which is first-class cricket. I think we need to make sure that you have the right mentality to reach at the bigger level, “at the same time, making your game bigger, I think that’s the biggest challenge any cricketer faces who plays U-19.

At the U-19, you need to make sure that you strive to get better as a cricketer. The competition level isn’t the same at the U-19 level, first-class level and at the international level. You need to keep changing your cricketing ability, but at the same time, your mentality as well which is very, very important,” the Baroda cricketer continued.

A guy who backs his youngsters really, really well: Irfan Pathan

The 35-year old went on to say agree with Jatin’s statement about Virat Kohli being the perfect role model for the upcoming generation. He compared Kohli’s captaincy to that of Sourav Ganguly, the one who is aggressive in his approach relentlessly backs youngsters, citing the example of Rishabh Pant.

“Absolutely and he is. He is very similar to Sourav Ganguly as well. A guy who backs his youngsters really, really well. Virat Kohli has that aura about him, that he goes out of his way to back the youngsters. We have seen that with Rishabh Pant, we have seen the press conferences, he goes to and says, ‘No, we need to back a guy like Rishabh Pant purely on his potential,” Pathan added further.

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