I am confident of making a comeback: Irfan

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“At the moment I’m working on my body, hitting the gym. These three months will be crucial as I will work on my pace. It all depends on how I maintain my body,” he says. More... Out in the cold, Irfan vows to come back Devendra Pandey Posted: Mon May 24 2010 It took one Australian tour in 2003-04 to make a curly-haired teenager a household name. Once he began swinging the ball both ways, comparisons with Wasim Akram followed. A few impressive knocks later, he was destined to be the next Kapil Dev. The fall for Irfan Pathan though, has been as quick as his climb was. Having lost his swing and a considerable amount of pace, Pathan is no longer the blue-eyed boy of the selection committee. Despite scoring 397 runs at an average of 49.62 and scalping 22 wickets in the 2009-10 Ranji season, followed by a five-wicket haul in the Duleep Trophy final, Pathan didn’t make the cut for the Zimbabwean tour or the India A side — touring England — as a pool of fresh faces was preferred by the selectors. Working on errors The disappointment is clear, but Pathan does his best to conceal it. “I really don’t know what to say. I was hopeful. Every cricketer thinks of where he is going wrong and tries to work on his errors. I’m playing well but need to do better. I’m still hoping to make a comeback,” Pathan says, while speaking to The Indian Express. While cricket pundits attempt to deconstruct where the downfall began, Pathan isn’t sure himself. Could it have been because of the drop in pace? “But I have never been a 140-plus bowler,” he says. “I don’t know what people are expecting from me. Do they want to see me to bowl at 140-plus and take no wickets? Or do they want to see me swing my way to wickets and give away fewer runs?” he asks, adding, “I was a bowler who could take wickets and perform whenever the team required.” The long season has finally come to an end after the IPL, and Pathan has planned his next three months in advance. “At the moment I’m working on my body, hitting the gym. These three months will be crucial as I will work on my pace. It all depends on how I maintain my body,” he says. The 25-year-old has more plans in place but is reluctant to reveal them, though he is tugging at the leash to return into the senior side as it’s been a year since he was last part of the Indian team. Pathan is aware of his statistics this season, and rattles them off like a student giving his oral exams. “It all depends on how my next season goes, I’m ready to do well again. Ready for more hard work, ready to learn everyday, ready to come back.”

[Sooda]

It is kinda funny that theyve dragged the likes of Jaskaran Singh to the Eng tour, while this guy who has proved himself at Intl level is languishin at home. The A team tour would have been ideal for Irfan.

[someone]

It is kinda funny that theyve dragged the likes of Jaskaran Singh to the Eng tour' date=' while this guy who has proved himself at Intl level is languishin at home. The A team tour would have been ideal for Irfan.[/quote'] Probably due to him being younger, Remember Pathan is not young anymore, and at his age, he is expected to give selectors a headache by performing well domestic rather than asking selectors to provide him an opportunity in a tour. Now, Pathan has to take hold of the opportunity available not always ask 4 more free opportunities like what he got when younger.

[youngindia]

“I don’t know what people are expecting from me. Do they want to see me to bowl at 140-plus and take no wickets? Or do they want to see me swing my way to wickets and give away fewer runs?†he asks,

is he joking? first of all where is the deadly inswinger? it has all but disappeared.even at his best, he was effective mostly with the new ball. he could have expanded his skills with the away ball, reverse swing and all that. now he is asking others the question. if he is clueless like this, then it does not look good.

[Chandan]

Probably due to him being younger, Remember Pathan is not young anymore, and at his age, he is expected to give selectors a headache by performing well domestic rather than asking selectors to provide him an opportunity in a tour. Now, Pathan has to take hold of the opportunity available not always ask 4 more free opportunities like what he got when younger.

Looks like you do not follow domestic cricket. Pathan had a superb domestic season where he excelled both with bat and ball in the longer version in both Ranji and Duleep trophy. What else are the selectors asking for, after shutting the door for these players from county cricket? And Irfan is not young? A 25 years old becomes becomes too old for cricket? Had that been the case none of Johnson or Bollinger or others would have got a chance! Wonder what you guys think! Irfan is one of the only 16 players to have taken 100 wickets in tests for India. He should have been properly nutured by rotation and giving him opportunities where he had maximum chance to excel. This way we could have saved and nurtured the other seamers like Ishant and Sreeshanth too. But selectors believe in grinding bowlers to dust and then thowing them off their radar! No wonder India struggles for quality seamers!!

[saneindian]

Don't know who is to be blamed for his plight. Irfan is one of the hardest working cricketers in India.Looks to be a genuine team man and have always seen him enjoy the success of his team mates. I hope someone in the selection pannel talks to him and lets him know what he needs to do to get back into the team.

[gaurav92]

Totally agree with you Chandan, this guy deserves a chance in Indian colours, especially in this tri series he should have been an automatic choice, i wonder what the selectors are thinking

[youngindia]

just a minute....he cannot reproduce his form of old that brought him fame....neither does he show new skills. so on what basis is he supposed to be selected? the selectors have no reason whatsoever to consider him.

[gaurav92]

just a minute....he cannot reproduce his form of old that brought him fame....neither does he show new skills. so on what basis is he supposed to be selected? the selectors have no reason whatsoever to consider him.

Just check all domestic competitions in the last couple of years to see Irfan's form b4 posting

[youngindia]

does not prove a thing about his bowling skills.i have seen him bowl. won't be enuf for international batsmen

[Gunner_Mania]

does not prove a thing about his bowling skills.i have seen him bowl. won't be enuf for international batsmen

exactly the question he is asking, what exactly does he needs to do to prove his bowling skills, apart from having an excellent domestic season? What eactly would be enough for an international batsmen?

[someone]

Looks like you do not follow domestic cricket. Pathan had a superb domestic season where he excelled both with bat and ball in the longer version in both Ranji and Duleep trophy. What else are the selectors asking for, after shutting the door for these players from county cricket? And Irfan is not young? A 25 years old becomes becomes too old for cricket? Had that been the case none of Johnson or Bollinger or others would have got a chance! Wonder what you guys think! Irfan is one of the only 16 players to have taken 100 wickets in tests for India. He should have been properly nutured by rotation and giving him opportunities where he had maximum chance to excel. This way we could have saved and nurtured the other seamers like Ishant and Sreeshanth too. But selectors believe in grinding bowlers to dust and then thowing them off their radar! No wonder India struggles for quality seamers!!

You have a point but let me broaden this topic from IP to our whole fast bowling bench So now I can use your same point that is so have Ishant Sharma, Sreesaanth etc, they have also performed well in domestic. There are many bowlers who look good in domestic but have failed to perform international. Pathan and the likes of IS and sreesaanth had a chance to show that in international level through IPL. All failed and rightfully not selected. When people are lambasting the selection of players like GG, UV who had a poor IPL tournament and still got selected but at the same time, it is the same people who say IP should have been selected and ignoring his poor performances in IPL. So better make up your mind on who should be selected on what basics and it should be applied to all players. Also, as I mentioned b4 in another thread, there are already 2 better left arm bowlers than him who are our first choice players so no need to get another left armer in the squad but rather a rightly who can give us more variation. Also if you see the India A squad, all of them players are young and untried so even the likes of IS, sree did not make it there. But no one is crying for them. And stop giving your defense based on some very old matches like 3-4 years old where IP did play well, using this kind of defense, properly I can say the likes of IS,RP, Sree should be selected

[Bublu Bhuyan]

I'm ready to welcome him with open arms if he manages to recover his lost form which he displayed during his first two years in International cricket. If he thinks he's fine with his recent form, then he'd rather try another sport.

[Gunner_Mania]

You have a point but let me broaden this topic from IP to our whole fast bowling bench So now I can use your same point that is so have Ishant Sharma, Sreesaanth etc, they have also performed well in domestic. There are many bowlers who look good in domestic but have failed to perform international. Pathan and the likes of IS and sreesaanth had a chance to show that in international level through IPL. All failed and rightfully not selected. When people are lambasting the selection of players like GG, UV who had a poor IPL tournament and still got selected but at the same time, it is the same people who say IP should have been selected and ignoring his poor performances in IPL. So better make up your mind on who should be selected on what basics and it should be applied to all players.

IPL is a domestic T20 tournament not an International. IPL/T20 is not a benchmark for selecting ODI/Test players. GG/UV were lamabasted for their selection to play in a T20 tournament. Nobody lamabasted GG selection for India's test team. God save us if we are now going to start selecting players for our test/ODI teams based on IPL/T20 performances.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

And what's this idiotic obsession of ours to turn bowlers into all rounders? We have always been a betting oriented team. We have a huge pool of batting talent. It's good bowlers that we lack. Irfan was a mouth watering prospect, and he was told to concentrate on both his batting and bowling. End result - we have it in front of us. Rather if he were told to concentrate solely on his bowling, chances are that he probably wouldn't have turned into the worthless bowler than he became later.

[Chandan]

You have a point but let me broaden this topic from IP to our whole fast bowling bench So now I can use your same point that is so have Ishant Sharma, Sreesaanth etc, they have also performed well in domestic. There are many bowlers who look good in domestic but have failed to perform international. Pathan and the likes of IS and sreesaanth had a chance to show that in international level through IPL. All failed and rightfully not selected. When people are lambasting the selection of players like GG, UV who had a poor IPL tournament and still got selected but at the same time, it is the same people who say IP should have been selected and ignoring his poor performances in IPL. So better make up your mind on who should be selected on what basics and it should be applied to all players. Also, as I mentioned b4 in another thread, there are already 2 better left arm bowlers than him who are our first choice players so no need to get another left armer in the squad but rather a rightly who can give us more variation. Also if you see the India A squad, all of them players are young and untried so even the likes of IS, sree did not make it there. But no one is crying for them.

People who think that players should be selected for ODIs, FC cricket, List A matches and tests on the basis on their performance on some IPL matches, need to first go and understand the meaning of cricket themselves. These pedigrees are proved in domestic matches like Ranji, Duleep and irani trophy along with, if possible, strong showing for India A on foreign soil against some tough opposition. Ishant played the last two tests that India played and will be there when India play their next match. I'm glad that he is not chosen for some rubbish ODIs. Same with Sreesanth. But I'd have loved if they had travelled to England with A team, at least play the 1st class matches. Even if they aren't there, it is clear that these two are on the selectors' radar which is not the case with Irfan for some unknown reason.

And stop giving your defense based on some very old matches like 3-4 years old where IP did play well, using this kind of defense, properly I can say the likes of IS,RP, Sree should be selected

So which old match did I quote? Looks like you are a completely ignorant fan who has no idea about the latest Ranji or Duleep trophy match. Go and check his recent performance on the final of Duleep trophy match where he claimed a 5 for in the 1st inning, on a feather bed where the team batting last chased a record score of 540 to win the match!

[youngindia]

exactly the question he is asking, what exactly does he needs to do to prove his bowling skills, apart from having an excellent domestic season? What eactly would be enough for an international batsmen?

he does not need anyone to tell him that. 1. recover the his prime weapon-prodigious inswingers.at the bare minmum, this is a "must" criteria. 2. develop an away ball or one that holds its line. 3. make the old ball talk. that's another major reason for his troubles.he has struggled with the old ball. 4. expand further bag of tricks. he is not a cricket illiterate.he knows all this. he is speaking BS here and that's y he is fooling himself. there are no short cuts. he has to figure things to expand his game or perish.same thing zaheer faced in 2006.

[achilles]

Proud of you, Irfan. My hands have got jammed writing in thread after thread that bowlers like You, Sreesanth, RP, Aggy, (to a certain extent) PK have been served a signal here from the selectors that "up your game or see 21yr old uncapped players getting the nod over you". Very happy to see Irfan atleast accepting that there is an issue and that he is working hard to come back. Accepting a problem is half the battle won. This part scares me, coz he's just playing stupid if he wants to think that the Indian public is not looking for 140+ pace and wickets-

“I don’t know what people are expecting from me. Do they want to see me to bowl at 140-plus and take no wickets? Or do they want to see me swing my way to wickets and give away fewer runs?†he asks' date=' adding, “I was a bowler who could take wickets and perform whenever the team required.â€[/quote'] But this reassures me that we may see a "Robin Uthappa-like" strong young man, with a spectacular physique. Irfan is making all the right noises :two_thumbs_up:

“At the moment I’m working on my body, hitting the gym. These three months will be crucial as I will work on my pace. It all depends on how I maintain my body,†he says. “It all depends on how my next season goes, I’m ready to do well again. Ready for more hard work, ready to learn everyday, ready to come back.â€

[vvvslaxman]

What i cannot tolerate is selection of useless pathan, Jaddu ahead of Irfan for a T20 game. You really have to be out of your mind to do that. I would take him 10 times out of 10 ahead of these two clowns.

[ViruRulez]

Wont take him now. Let him earn the position in the team now. Enough of freebies for our bowlers. If he can increase his pace actually and even go 135+ with good swing and control then I would surely welcome him with open arms. Otherwise let the new kids get chances and especially Umesh Yadav