Irfan Pathan believes the surest way for an IPL player to leave a lasting mark is to stay with one franchise for as long as possible.
Lessons from his own career
Speaking on JioStar, Pathan said loyalty can shape a player’s identity and leave an impact on both the team and its fans. He accepted that retention rules and auctions often stop franchises from keeping their core players, but said staying put remains the ideal.
He spent his first three IPL years at Punjab. In the fourth, they wanted him to stay, but because the retention rules meant no players could be kept, they were unable to hold on to him.
A common problem
Pathan said such cases are common and used Shubman Gill’s exit from Kolkata Knight Riders as an example of a franchise losing a player it had backed because of circumstances outside its control.
Even so, he urged players to stay with one team whenever they get the chance, to let go of a few things and to build their legacy there. In his view, continuity is the key.
A journeyman’s perspective
Pathan himself played for six franchises in the IPL: Punjab, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions. That makes him one of the few players to represent so many sides in the tournament.
His comments come at a time when player movement between teams has become increasingly common, which puts a fresh spotlight on the value of loyalty.
