Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opened up on one of the most challenging phases of his career, recalling how MS Dhoni’s call in 2009 effectively ended his run with the national side despite a series of strong performances. Known for his dream debut as a teenager and his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, Pathan’s journey had the perfect fairytale beginning but took an unexpected turn when he was sidelined from the team.

Speaking to Lallantop, Pathan revisited a candid conversation he had with then-coach Gary Kirsten during India’s 2009 tour of New Zealand. Just before that series, Irfan and his elder brother Yusuf Pathan had played match-winning roles in Sri Lanka. In one particular clash, India required 60 runs off just 27–28 deliveries, and the Pathan brothers pulled off a stunning heist. For Irfan, such heroics made his exclusion in the very next series even harder to digest.

“In New Zealand, I was left out of the first three matches, then the fourth was washed out due to rain. When I wasn’t included in the final match either, I decided to ask Gary sir why I wasn’t in the XI. I told him if there was something I needed to improve, I was ready to work on it. I just wanted to know the reason behind the decision,” Irfan Pathan revealed.

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According to him, Kirsten gave two explanations. The first was that some decisions were “not in his hands.” Pathan, without being told explicitly, understood what that meant. The final say on selection rested with the captain, and at that time, Dhoni’s preferences were shaping the squad.

“Kirsten told me directly that certain things were beyond his control. I knew whose hands they were in. The captain decides the playing XI. I won’t say whether it was right or wrong because every captain has his way of managing the team, and Dhoni was within his rights,” Irfan Pathan admitted.

The second reason Kirsten shared was more tactical. The team management, he explained, wanted a batting all-rounder at No.7, which tilted the balance in Yusuf’s favour. While Irfan was primarily a bowling all-rounder, Yusuf offered explosive batting firepower — something Dhoni’s side prioritised at the time.

“Fair enough,” Irfan Pathan conceded. “My brother was a batting all-rounder, and I was a bowling all-rounder. There was only room for one in that team combination. Today, teams would gladly play with two all-rounders, but back then, that wasn’t the case.”

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Despite the setback, Irfan staged a brief comeback in 2011 and played 12 ODIs in 2012, where he scored 172 runs and picked up 19 wickets. That year would ultimately be his last in international cricket, as injuries and team balance worked against him. In 2020, he finally called time on his professional career.

Looking back, Irfan Pathan’s story highlights not just the thin margins in international cricket but also the influence a captain wields in shaping careers. While Dhoni’s decision was rooted in team strategy, for Irfan, it became a turning point that defined the final phase of his India journey.