Former cricketer Irfan Pathan says children should be encouraged to explore different sports at an early age. On Children’s Day, he recalled his own journey starting on the streets of Vadodara. He believes sports teach kids to handle success and failure, helping them grow as people throughout their lives.
Irfan Pathan
On Children’s Day, former cricketer Irfan Pathan takes a trip down memory lane, recalling how his love for cricket began in the most unassuming way — on the streets near his home in Vadodara. Irfan recalls living with his family in the quarters of a mosque and watching children play cricket whenever he and his brother Yusuf Pathan went out. “Whenever Yusuf and I stepped out and crossed the street, we would see these little boys playing cricket with a tennis ball in the mohalla. Gradually, we joined them and started playing,” he says, adding, “It was such a joy to watch those boys play and eventually, play the game ourselves. In India, everyone grows up watching cricket. So, yes, the love for the game began very early in my life.” As their skills developed, their mother saw an opportunity to take their passion to the next level. “When Yusuf and I started playing well, our mother advised us to join a club and play professionally. That’s how the journey began and it has been wonderful to represent India,” Irfan says. ‘Sports teach you to handle success and failure’ Irfan believes sports play an important role in shaping a child’s personality, teaching them valuable life lessons along the way. He says, “Cricket and sports have been my biggest teachers.
Join conversation
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
They have made me and broken me many times, but each experience has helped me grow as a person. Sports teach you to deal with both success and failure, and to handle the good and bad, much like life itself. My advice to parents is to encourage their children to take up sports. Let them explore multiple sports at an early age. Once they are old enough to make informed decisions, they can choose one sport to focus on.” Let children play sports for the love of the game. This will help keep the child in them alive always, and if they are good at a particular sport, they will find their way to the top