‘You can be hero one day, fade away the next’: Irfan Pathan warns youngsters about handling pay-pressure

The Indian Premier League has been synonymous with rags-to-riches stories. Many unknown cricketers shoot to fame on a lucky auction day. Teams try to outbid each other and in the process, the cricketer ends up with a big pay cheque. And with that comes huge pressure on the player to perform. In fact, some of the players even have their every run/ wicket judged based on the money spent on them. In IPL 2026, it won’t be any different. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has warned those players as the money and fame could just fade away if they can’t handle the pressure to perform.

Speaking on JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live’ on March 20, the former Indian all-rounder shared his thoughts on how high prices can impact a player’s mindset as well as his performance. While pressure is one of the key qualities that comes to mind when on the field, he opined that the massive price could also indirectly impact their performance.

“The biggest thing is how you handle pressure. The IPL is a tournament where you can be a hero one day, and fade away the next. We’ve seen so many players who earn huge money at an auction, but then don’t perform the following season and don’t even get picked again,” Pathan said.

Want to see how a player like Prashant Veer performs: Irfan Pathan

The former India all-rounder, while speaking on IPL Today Live, picked Prashant Veer as the player to watch out for, especially after he was signed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a sum of INR 14.20 Crore.

“I would want to see how a player like Prashant Veer, who has been paid in upwards of ₹14 crore, performs under pressure when given an opportunity. Especially in the last four overs, whether he is batting or bowling, when a breakthrough is needed and he is being attacked from both ends, how does he respond in that moment?” he added.

The 41-year-old Baroda-born further claimed that if he were a part of the management, he would observe what the player goes through, especially knowing the money invested in the player. While talking on the show, he added, “I would also observe what happens after a player fails under pressure in a few matches. How does he regroup, rebuild, and step back onto the field with confidence?”

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