Irfan Pathan: I know who my well wishers are, the rest don't matter

Irfan Pathan, who is participating in the show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded, is “working very hard” with his choreographers to get his act right, but is honest enough to admit that he is a complete non-dancer. Asked to rate himself as a dancer, Irfan laughs, “While I am a decent singer, I would give myself zero on a scale of 10 when it comes to dancing.” While he had participated in the show Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena with actress Ashima Bhalla in 2008, he maintains, “That doesn’t make things any easier.I am used to handling the pressure of playing in front of thousands at stadiums, but handling the expectations of millions of fans watching you on TV is something new for me.” Excerpts:
What made you take up a dance reality show, and how has the experience been?
When I was approached, my initial answer was ‘no’ but then, I was told that the show is about the journey of non-dancers. The upcoming cricketing season is very crucial for me and I didn’t want my game to be affected in any way. Thankfully, this is the off-season and no cricket is happening. I have always been open to new challenges and so, took it up. Also, dancing is an excellent way to keep fit. The money that I earn will go to the foundation started by me and Yusuf for underprivileged kids who want to play cricket. We know how tough it is to pursue cricket when you hail from a modest financial background, and remain indebted to our dad, who had to work for more than 14 hours a day to arrange for our cricket equipments.
Read: When cricketers got a ‘reality’ cheque
The journey on the show has been fun. Among co-contestants, I have known Ashish (Chowdhry) and Shamita (Shetty) for a while, and have seen a few of Kavita Kaushik’s shows. The judges have been sweet to me. While Karan Johar is very witty, Lauren Gottileb’s passion for dance is unbelievable. Shahid (Kapoor) is a big cricket enthusiast, so, we have bonded well.
How has your family reacted to your new avatar as a dancer?
My family is very happy for me and my sister is the most excited. I am impressed with the amount of hard work that the choreographers put in. It’s really inpiring and worth emulating.

Who are the best dancers when it comes to Indian cricketers?
Undoubtedly Sreesanth, Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli.
Are you wary of criticism, having ventured into new territory?
As cricketers, we are used to criticism all the time. As long as I’m not doing any wrong and not upsetting my family and true fans, I am not really bothered about criticism. If people close to me point out something, I am open to the suggestions. I know who my well-wishers are, the rest don’t matter.
Cricket wise, the last two seasons were bad for you. How are you looking at the season ahead?
I was plagued by injury issues in the last two seasons, but I am fit and raring to go now. The aim is to do well for Baroda in the domestic competitions and I believe that I will be able to contribute well. This season is crucial and I want to make sure that I do well and come back into the reckoning to play for my country again.
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Watch: Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 8: Cricketer Irfan Pathan's appearance