Irfan Pathan says performing well in IPL doesn't guarantee a spot in the T20 World Cup team.

Former Indian left-arm fast-bowler Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts on the ongoing IPL 2024 season and its possible impact on the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. He believes that strong performances in the IPL should not automatically guarantee a spot in the national team for the World Cup, as there are other factors to consider.

Pathan recalled his personal experience during his time in the Indian team, when he was dropped after getting injured despite having played for the country. He acknowledged that the mindset of selectors and the captain at the time was different and that things have changed since then.

He also highlighted the case of Wriddhiman Saha, who was out of the team for a year due to injury but was still given the opportunity to make a comeback based on his past contributions for the team. Pathan emphasized the importance of not undervaluing a player's previous achievements for India, even before the IPL.

He cautioned against the idea of automatically selecting players solely based on their IPL performances, as the conditions and competition in international cricket are very different. He mentioned how facing someone like Mitchell Starc in the World Cup would be a different challenge compared to facing an uncapped bowler in the IPL.

Pathan also stressed the importance of experience, citing the 2007 T20 World Cup where India had a mix of young and experienced players. He debunked the myth that India won the tournament with a young team, highlighting the significant amount of experience the players had.

Looking ahead to the upcoming T20 World Cup, Pathan believes that selectors should be cautious in picking inexperienced players, especially given the slow conditions in the West Indies. He expressed his belief in always relying on experience in pressure situations and cautioned against solely relying on young players based on the success of the 2007 team.

He ended by mentioning India's first match against Ireland on June 5 and how the team's experience will be crucial in navigating the challenges of the tournament. India, the 2007 T20 World Cup champions, are in Group A with Pakistan, Canada, and co-host USA.

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