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Few cricketers possess the deep understanding of fast bowling and tactical nuances that Irfan Pathan does. Once the face of India’s pace resurgence, he has now become one of the game’s most insightful analysts. As part of the broadcasting team for the ongoing Indian Premier League, the 41-year-old is unafraid to tackle tough questions—assessing Rishabh Pant’s struggling captaincy, identifying emerging fast-bowling stars, and decoding what keeps Bhuvneshwar Kumar a perpetual threat. A conversation with him offers a masterclass in cricket strategy.
In an online interview, Irfan explored the mechanics of swing bowling, the challenges faced by elite players like Jasprit Bumrah, the value of red-ball cricket for T20 success, and more. Here are the highlights.
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On Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Young Pace Attack
When the season started, few expected Sunrisers Hyderabad to be where they are now. I even thought their bowling might crack under pressure. They began with Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel, but that didn’t click. Then they turned to young bowlers with variations and high pace—and it worked brilliantly. Pacers Sakib Hussain and Shivang Kumar, with his leg-spin, have been major finds.
Pat Cummins is a remarkable leader. In the home game against Punjab Kings, Sakib bowled a full-toss no-ball, and Cummins immediately had a word with him. Sakib ended up bowling nearly his full quota, even at the death. That’s smart resource management.
If I were mentoring SRH’s bowling, I’d focus on Sakib’s alignment—it’s slightly across his body, which could hurt his control. I’d have him bowl from the centre of the crease rather than too close to the stumps, so he can hit the line more consistently. Everyone talks about being close to the stumps, but it’s not for everyone. Side-arm and front-arm bowlers have different styles. I wouldn’t change his action—just work on that after the season.
For Shivang, I’d monitor his lengths. Against overseas batters, he tends to bowl too full, and they go after him. They don’t play spin, so they get out. I’d encourage him to keep control of his length, especially against Indian batters who are strong over covers. But Varun Aaron and his staff already do a great job.
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On Rishabh Pant’s Tough Season
I had high hopes for Pant’s captaincy, but the last two seasons haven’t delivered. He’s under pressure now, especially after Lucknow Super Giants spent heavily on him in the auction. You expect him to win games single-handedly, and that hasn’t happened. With a few games left and some good knocks behind him, he still has a chance to turn it around.
As for his place in the ODI squad, we’ll know only after the IPL. He might come back and win two games—or continue struggling. Both are possible. I doubt selectors will decide now.
On Axar Patel’s Captaincy and Delhi Capitals’ Issues
When results don’t come, the captain is always blamed. Axar Patel is in the same boat as Rishabh. When Chennai Super Kings struggled, people criticised Ruturaj Gaikwad. Now CSK is winning, and he’s praised. That’s natural.
One problem for Axar: his bowling takes a backseat when he leads. He’s a great PowerPlay bowler, but I’ve seen him come on too late. He focuses on getting results from others and neglects his own bowling. That’s a mistake, because he’s a wonderful bowler. His batting has also dipped this season. There’s too much on his plate.
Delhi Capitals are a top-four team on paper—K.L. Rahul, Axar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc. Two factors hurt them. First, decision-making, especially at the toss. Second, Kuldeep isn’t in good form. An economy over 10 from your main spinner is tough.
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On Gujarat Titans’ Unique Approach
Gujarat Titans are fascinating. They rely on their pace attack: Kagiso Rabada (150 km/h), Mohammed Siraj (moves the ball both ways), Ashok Sharma (high pace), and Prasidh Krishna. They put grass on the pitch to help bowlers. That makes sense when you have Test-quality bowlers like Rabada, Siraj, and Prasidh. And don’t forget Rashid Khan.
With a strong bowling unit, you want to maximise it. They know low-scoring games suit them. That’s why they have technically solid batters like Jos Buttler (used to swing and seam), Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudarshan. Their plan: use the pitch to their advantage, lose fewer early wickets, and then it gets easier. Tactically, they’re playing to their strengths—bowling first, then batting smartly.
On Jasprit Bumrah vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has an outstanding repetitive action, even when swinging both ways. People talk about his wrist, but it starts with his base. A strong base is like a building’s foundation. Watch his front foot—it falls on the same spot every time, whether outswing or inswing. That never slips. He’s also fit now, taking care of his body, and hasn’t stopped playing red-ball cricket. That teaches you where to hit lengths because you bowl many spells.
That’s a lesson for young fast bowlers: don’t leave red-ball cricket. Bowling in the morning, afternoon, and evening across two or three spells prepares your body for tough four-over spells under pressure.
As for Jasprit Bumrah, I’m not too worried. The numbers might be off, but greats go through phases. It affects team results, too. My solution: let him rest now, both mentally and physically. Maybe it’s more mental. Once he and his support staff manage his body well, he’ll be fine. We’ve never seen a talent like him. I’ve played 20+ years and been in broadcasting for 10. He’s special—no doubt.
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On Kolkata Knight Riders’ Revival
Ajinkya Rane’s captaincy in recent games has been impressive. He’s used his bowlers well. But KKR’s weakness is playing spin in the middle overs. In the past, they had Yusuf Pathan and Gautam Gambhir, who handled spin brilliantly. Under Gambhir, 160 was defendable, especially with Sunil Narine. They had batters good at sweeping against spin. Shreyas Iyer also tackled spinners well. They won the trophy. They’ll need to address this in the next big auction.
On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Readiness for India
He’s ready—it’s not just about the IPL. He’s played year-round cricket and made runs in different conditions—U-19 World Cup final, in India and abroad. In the IPL, he’s taken on quality bowlers like Bumrah without hesitation. As a selector, you watch how he handles tough conditions and big bowlers. Does he go on the back foot? He’s ticking every box.
Other Emerging Players
Prince Yadav has made a massive impact. Anshul Kamboj has become a star for CSK after a tough Test debut. He learned from that. Ashok Sharma and Gurjapneet Singh have been good, too. This season has produced quality fast bowlers.
Life as an Analyst
I’m loving it. I do ‘Champions wali commentary’ for JioHotstar—it’s perfect for someone who loves analysing finer details, tactics, biomechanics. That’s my zone.
