“We don't want to become local trains, have to be Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Vande Bharat” - Irfan Pathan after India’s ODI series loss to Australia

After India's ODI series loss to Australia, Irfan Pathan uses a powerful train metaphor to demand consistent, world-class performance from the team, saying they must be a "Shatabdi" or "Vande Bharat" and not a "local train."

By Jack 24 Oct 2025 in Cricket

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Former Indian all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan has asserted that the Indian players coming back from a long layoff should play at least a few domestic games to keep themselves match fit before making their international comeback.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan also asserted that India can’t lose the first one-day every time and play the catching game later in the series. However, he felt India had a decent game in the second ODI when compared to the Perth fixture.

"It's a game of margins. India have done well compared to the first game. But it's true we were not good enough and players must play some games after a long break. We don't want to become local trains, have to be Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Vande Bharat trains. We can't become local trains; hence, we end up playing catch up. We can't lose the first one-day every time, thinking we can win the second. We are now behind 0-2,” Irfan said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Pathan felt India should’ve brought in the wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav to the playing XI for the Adelaide ODI as Australian spinner Adam Zampa scalped a four-wicket haul to win the player of the match award. However, Pathan reckoned that since Rohit and Kohli are coming back from a long break, India needed the batting depth.

"If you look at it overall, where did it go wrong? More runs were required. You would have thought the match was close but Australia were quite comfortable. Cooper Connolly was playing easily, wickets fell but Australia still won comfortably. But if you had a wrist-spinner in Kuldeep Yadav in the middle overs, it would have been good. I understand the need for batting depth because at least three players are coming on the back of not playing regular cricket, so you don't know their form. So, batting depth is required,” he added.

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