The curious case of Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan made his international debut at the age of 19 and was often likened to Kapil Dev for his immense all-round potential. At his peak, he was regarded as one of the finest swing bowlers in the world. However, despite his promising start, his career was surprisingly short-lived. He played his last Test match in 2008 at the age of 23, his final white-ball international in 2012 at 27, and his last IPL game in 2017 at 32. Pathan remains one of Indian cricket's biggest "what ifs." Despite his talent, his career trajectory raises questions about whether he could have been managed better. What led to such an early decline for a player with his all-round abilities? Could more strategic handling have prolonged his career and helped him realize his full potential?