Sourav Ganguly I when sourav ganguly refuses to select irfan pathan in the Indian team

Southampton: During the Indian team’s tour of Australia in 2003-04, in the last Test played in Sydney, we saw a young fast bowler bowling Adam Gilchrist on a fine yorker. This ball was so memorable that whoever saw it, he could not forget it till now. The name of this young fast bowler was Irfan Pathan, who was playing only his second international match. Cricket-turned-commentator Irfan Pathan revealed that captain Sourav Ganguly initially did not want him in the team.

Ganguly is fondly called ‘Dada’, who is credited with promoting the youth. However, in the case of Irfan Pathan, Ganguly had his problems. While talking to Star Sports during the break, Pathan revealed that before the debut test in Australia, the captain came up to me and said- ‘I don’t want you in the team’. Irfan Pathan also said, ‘Dada thought I was too young to play in Australia and I would be challenged.’

Dada surprised me: Irfan Pathan

As a young bowler, Pathan had to face some challenges. However, after the end of the tour, Irfan Pathan was considered India’s new discovery. He took four wickets in two matches, including three in Sydney. Pathan told that the captain Sourav Ganguly later admitted his mistake.

Irfan Pathan said, ‘He came to me and said that he was wrong in his views. He surprised me because rarely does a captain come and talk about selection and admit his mistake. Irfan Pathan represented India in 29 Tests and took 100 wickets at 32.26 and contributed 1105 runs with the bat. His batting average was 31.57. During this, Pathan scored a century and 6 half-centuries.

Pathan was one of the most talented fast bowlers of India in his time. In his short Test career, Pathan also took the hat-trick in the first over. He achieved this feat against Pakistan in 2006.