'Sourav Ganguly did not want me because...' - Irfan Pathan makes a huge revelation about 2003-04 India tour of Australia

Former Indian all-rounder and current commentator, Irfan Pathan has stunned everyone with an unbelievable revelation about the former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. He talked about his decision of Ganguly during India’s tour of Australia for the four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy almost 20 years back in the session 2003-04.

Pathan made this revelation during his commentary stint on Star Sports yesterday during when the 44^th match of ongoing the Indian Premier League 2023. He went on to claim that the former skipper Ganguly didn’t want him to be a part of the squad of India that was about to tour Australia for the Test series.

“Sourav Ganguly did not want me in the squad for 2003-04,” said Pathan during commentary on Star Sports.

Notably, it was the debut tour for the Baroda-born pace-bowling all-rounder. There were notions in the Indian cricketing fraternity that the former skipper had some special reservations with the left-arm pace-bowling all-rounder.

Here's what Irfan Pathan said further for Sourav Ganguly:

“Dada thought that I was too young as a 19-year-old to be playing in Australia and that I would be challenged,” the 20-20 World Cup winner all-rounder added later.

Speaking of India’s tour of Australia in 2003-04, it consisted of seven First-Class fixtures including the four Tests of the main Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Later on, the four-match Test series between India and Australia ended with a drawn result of 1-1. Eventually, Sourav Ganguly’s India retained the Border-Gavaskar that they won in the previous edition.

Talking about the current scenario for India in Test cricket, they have recently surpassed Australia to become the number-one Test team in the World. Rohit Sharma-led Indian squad will take on Australia in the much-anticipated final of the Test Championship 2023 cycle. Notably, India have made it to the summit clash of the Test Championship for the second consecutive time after they lost last time against New Zealand in the final Test Championship 2021 cycle.