Former Indian all-rounder turned mentor, Irfan Pathan has been willing to change perceptions both on and off-field as his primary goal is to lead Jammu and Kashmir‘s cricketing circle towards a new era. On Friday, J&K recorded their first win of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy and Pathan couldn’t be more proud.

J&K defeated Tripura at home for an outright win and claimed six points. He is trying to change the perception and also putting up a resistance against the quota system that forces a fixed number of players each from Jammu and Kashmir to represent the state.

During the recent chat with the Indian Express, Irfan said, “We all are happy, but as a unit, I don’t want my team to get carried away. We are trying different things so that we all go in one direction as a unit. It’s a big region, it’s Jammu and Kashmir, it’s not like other states. But as long as I’m there, no quota system will be entertained.”

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While on the broader perspective, they are planning to bring everyone on the same page, Pathan has started with the basic level. Sharing some of the incidents regarding the same Irfan said, one day, they decided that two from Jammu and two from Kashmir will have dinner together and they often try to organize as their primary goal is to get everyone on the same page, in any which way possible.

With seven points from three matches so far, J&K are currently at the seventh spot in Group C. On-field, Pathan is utilizing his own experience and observing top teams like Mumbai to teach the same attitude in the players. He said, “I asked the bowlers to bowl at the fifth stump line. In the Ranji Trophy season, there comes a session in every game when the bowler has to buy a wicket. The one team which professionally does that is Mumbai. They bowl with a seven-two field.”

Explaining his point further, Pathan said that they have guided every batsman no to his arms at the ball and instructed each pair had to take a single off each delivery in the nets. He said that the team needs to understand the importance of rotating strike and taking singles.