Overview:
During his three stints with PBKS, Pathan played 42 matches, claiming 47 wickets and contributing 603 runs.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have faced a turbulent journey in the IPL. Despite making it to the final in IPL 2025, they have reached the playoffs only three times in 18 seasons. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who represented the team during its early years, revealed insights into the challenges the franchise has struggled with, including hints of owner involvement in team selection decisions.
The 2008 IPL saw Punjab, captained by Yuvraj Singh, advance to the semi-finals, but the team failed to sustain that early success in the following seasons.
“In 2009, when the IPL shifted to South Africa, there was a noticeable lack of coordination, and we didn’t perform well. In 2008, we reached the semifinals, so the leadership should have stayed consistent, but by the third season, the captaincy had changed,” Pathan told Star Sports.
“The main problem was the disconnect between the coaches, many of whom lacked a cricketing background, and the owners, who also didn’t come from cricket. That’s been a recurring issue with Punjab,” he added.
While Preity Zinta remains the most recognisable face of Punjab Kings’ ownership, she holds just 23% of the franchise, alongside Mohit Burman (48%), Ness Wadia (23%), and Karan Paul (6%). Irfan Pathan spoke candidly about the owners’ approach, suggesting it may have caused friction in the past.
“At first, the owners appeared to be good, especially in one-on-one interactions. However, from the beginning, there was a clear lack of coordination behind the scenes, which significantly affected decision-making,” he revealed.
“For instance, if one owner insists on selecting a team purely for results, while another prefers a certain combination, and the performance on the field doesn’t match expectations, it creates a major conflict. I believe that was the main problem in the beginning,” he mentioned.
During his three stints with PBKS, Pathan played 42 matches, claiming 47 wickets and contributing 603 runs. He did note, however, that the team’s management appears to be improving. With Shreyas Iyer leading the way, PBKS will be aiming to carry their positive form into IPL 2026.
“Looking at the situation now, it’s clear there’s been a lot of improvement, and the franchise has tried to bring more stability. But having changed twelve captains over the years shows that consistent leadership was lacking. Without stable leadership, players don’t feel secure, and when they don’t feel secure, it’s hard to perform in such a competitive league. Until a few years ago, this was definitely a challenge for Punjab,” he concluded.