'We are all human, we all get homesick' - Irfan Pathan bats for player rotation, opens up on bio-bubble fatigue

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons that the backbreaking schedule of the Indian players in the build-up of the T20 World Cup has been challenging. The Indian team has spent a considerable amount of time in bio-secure environments away from the family over the last one, which includes the previous edition of the IPL, an all-format away tour of Australia followed England home series, both legs IPL 2021, World Test Championship final and five-Test series against England.

“Look, the Indian team has been touring non-stop, first WTC, then the England tour – which was a long tour – then the whole IPL, and now coming into the World Cup is not easy for anyone. But, most of the teams are in the same boat as well. So, you need to keep that aside and just keep thinking positively, because I think, in the two years of the pandemic a lot of people lost their jobs as well,” Pathan said on Star Sports.

“So, you need to think from the perspective, that you are definitely working but you are representing your country as well, that’s the biggest pride moment for anyone. So, you need to think like that. I know it’s not easy. We are all human. We think in a certain way, and we all get homesick,” he added.

Pathan’s comments come after Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah opened up on the issues of playing cricket in times of a pandemic and facing the heat having “been on the road for six months“. Meanwhile, immediately after the conclusion of the World Cup, India will host New Zealand for three T20Is and two Tests. It is learned that India will field a second-string squad likely to be led by KL Rahul in a bid to give the first-choice players some break from the game.

“In the series which is coming up after the World Cup, there will be a rotation policy for sure because you don’t want to keep playing all the time, as you are human and not a machine at the end of the day. I want them to keep focusing on the games and make sure whatever game you are playing, remember you are representing the country, and that’s the biggest pride one can have.”

India needs to get the right players at right position: Irfan Pathan

Pathan also spoke about India’s approach and the pitches in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting that playing the correct combination and slotting the players at the correct batting position will be of paramount importance. Notably, India changed their opening combination against New Zealand, when they sent Ishan Kishan alongside KL Rahul, with Rohit Sharma demoted at No. 3 in a move that backfired totally.

“First of all, get the batting combination right, get the proper guys at the proper position like Rohit Sharma batting up the order and then once he gets set then it’s a different thing. With the Abu Dhabi pitch, you get more turns but the good thing is the pitch has more pace as well which means it will come nicely onto the bat and this is what the Indian team needs to be aware of,” Pathan said.

“They don’t need to worry about what happened in Dubai, they don’t need to be worried about what’s happening in Sharjah as far the pitch is concerned where the ball doesn’t come onto the bat. It’s a good cricketing pitch, so you need to enjoy that bounce, and I think guys like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli will cherish this and they will enjoy, and if they just believe in their own timing spend a bit more time and get the opening sorted then they don’t need to worry about the quality spinners that we were talking about, they can face any spinner any fast bowler but they just need to spend more time.”