Drawing from his own IPL journey, Pathan reflected on how franchise loyalty can shape a player’s identity and leave a lasting impact on both the team and its supporters. While acknowledging that retention rules and auction dynamics often limit a franchise’s ability to keep its core players, he believes staying with one team remains the ideal scenario.
Speaking on JioStar, Pathan revealed that he spent the first three years of his IPL career with Punjab and was keen to continue. However, changes in the league’s retention rules meant the franchise could not keep its players despite wanting to do so.
“If you want to create a legacy as a player, you can do that only by staying with one franchise if you get that opportunity. My first team was Punjab, and I played there for three years. In the fourth year, Punjab wanted me to stay, but due to the retention rules, they couldn’t retain any players.”
Pathan pointed out that such situations are common in the IPL and cited Shubman Gill’s departure from Kolkata Knight Riders as an example of how franchises sometimes lose players they have invested in because of circumstances beyond their control.
Despite these challenges, the former India pacer urged cricketers to remain loyal to a franchise whenever the opportunity arises, arguing that continuity is the key to building a memorable legacy.
“If you get the chance to stay with one franchise, let go of a few things, build your legacy, and stay with that team.”
During his IPL career, Pathan represented six franchises—Punjab, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant, and Gujarat Lions—making him one of the few players to feature for multiple teams in the tournament. His comments highlight the growing importance of franchise loyalty in an era where player movement has become increasingly common.
