2003 Australia tour on debut was really tough, recollects Irfan Pathan

At a very young age of 19, Irfan Pathan made his Indian debut away from the Indian shore against the tough Australian team. In the Adelaide Test in 2003, the all-rounder only picked a solitary wicket in the 34 overs that the bowled, with the prized scalp of Matthew Hayden. Even with the bat, the youngster could not make a positive effect on the team, scoring 1 in the first innings. Recollecting the series, Pathan admitted that on debut, it was a really tough tour. 

"Australia tour is really tough tour. When a 19-year-old player goes there, he gets a lot of beating,” he told SportsTak, reported India Today. 

The all-rounder from Baroda also recollected the advice that the then skipper Sourav Ganguly gave him after the series came to an end. He revealed that Ganguly rejected the all-rounder in the selection meeting, because of his age. Pathan also added that the now-BCCI president’s opinion changed when he met him for the first time. However, post the series, the left-armer's career took a sudden jump after his hat-trick against arch-rivals, Pakistan. 

“I remember Dada also told me after the tour was about to come to a close, that Irfan you might not know, but I didn't want you to come on the tour. I had rejected you in the selection meeting. Not because I had seen your bowling. But because I didn't want to take a 19-year-old player in such a difficult tour to Australia. But when I saw you, I was sure that you would do well," Irfan further revealed.