Indian cricket commentator and former indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan supports Gautam Gambhir’s focus on team culture over star culture in Indian cricket, highlighting the need to move past favoring established players even with performance decline. Balanced approach of Ajit Agarkar also praised by Irfan Pathan and highlights the importance of coach-selector alignment in decision-making for encouraging a merit-based environment. This step targets to define a new era for Indian cricket.
Speaking openly, Pathan highlighted how long-standing favoritism towards established names had often hurt promising players, and advised that Gambhir with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, is decided to bring lasting change in Indian cricket.
Irfan Pathan said Lallantop “Mere liye team culture bahut important hai. (For me, team culture is very important). Gautam Gambhir jo hai na wahaan pe, jab tak wo apni coaching journey khatam karenge na, wo team culture le ke aayenge puri tarah se. (As long as Gambhir is the coach, he will fully instill team culture),”
Irfan Pathan also told on how Indian cricket has, at times, been reluctant to move on from struggling players due to their past position, “Humare yahaan ek banda fail hue ja raha hai 3,4,5 saal se magar usko chance de do kyunki wo bahut bada player hai, kahi toh aapko full stop lagana padega na.(Here, a player keeps falling for 3, 4, 5 years, but still gets opportunities because he is a big name, Somewhere, you have to put a full stop),” he explained.
Irfan Pathan commended the current selection panel, which is led by Ajit Agarkar, for their balanced approach in selecting teams. “Dusra jinka naam nahi aata, wo banda abada jabardast hai Indian cricket ke liye – chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. (The other person who deserves credit is Ajit Agarkar, he is fantastic for Indian cricket),” Pathan said.
Also Read : https://sportslila.com/asia-cup-2025-will-jasprit-bumrah-play-asia-cup-2025-big-update-on-bumrahs-availability-for-team-india/
Focusing on decision-making process, Pathan stressed the importance of alignment between coach and selectors, “Aaj ek koi bhi decision hota hai na, wo sirf coach nahi le sakta, ek koi bhi decision selector nahi le sakta. Do log agar mil jaaye, jo majboot ho wo fir sahi direction mey jaate hai. Mujhe lagta hai ye dono sahi direction me ja rahe hai….team culture ko le kar. (Today, no decision can be taken solely by the selector. If two strong individuals come together, the team moves in the right direction. I believe Gambhir and Agarkar are doing that with team culture),” Pathan added.
