India has celebrity culture unlike Australia: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

After Australia thwarted India in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023, there were several discussions over the sporting culture in Australia. Culture plays a major role in the conduct of a team that can handle high-pressure moments and snag victory. Australia have done the same time again and their vast pantheon of ICC titles is a testament to their dominating mindset.

Speaking of the same, former India pacer Irfan Pathan pointed out that having a celebrity culture in India has not helped the team overall. In India, cricketers are termed demigods by their fans who almost worship them. Highlighting this particular aspect, Pathan’s statement is directed towards India’s Head Coach Rahul Dravid to manage the stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He also exemplified former India coach, Greg Chappell who arrived with this mindset.

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“Australia does not have a celebrity culture. Fortunately or unfortunately we have that.  Ideally, I would want to have a nice balance between Australian and Indian cultures where we come in between. Sometimes having that kind of culture does not help us. At the same time, we are what we are. We are not Australians, we are Indians. Our emotions are different. Our ethics are different, our mindset is different,” Pathan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Chappell wanted everyone to be treated equally: Pathan

Greg Chappell was the Indian team’s coach around 2007. With his coaching came several changes in the national team’s setup. There was a difference of opinion between him and the-then captain, Sourav Ganguly. As a result, India were out of the 2007 World Cup in the league stage. Irfan Pathan quipped that the Australian’s aggressive mindset did not help the team as there were no questions raised on his intent.

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“When Greg Chappell came in, his intention was pure, his intention was to take Indian cricket to a high. He wanted everyone to be treated equally and he wanted everyone to work in the same way which was for the Indian team, but his way was proper Australian, which did not work in India. His intentions were never a question,” he added.