Did Imran Khan ever have a bad patch during his cricketing career?

[gazza619]

I starting watching cricket in the early 90’s. I was wondering did the great Imran Khan ever face a bad patch where he was struggling to score runs or take wickets? I am not talking about when he had fitness issues. I am talking about a full fit Imran Khan.

Perhaps the posters who are slightly older than me can shed light on this?

 

[Bilal7]

Pretty much the first part of his career when he was a medium-pacer who couldn't even bat a bit.

 

[PakLFC]

When he suffered a serious shin injury in the early 80's. Kept him when he was at the peak of his powers. Would have had at least a 100 more wickets had he not lost those years.

 

[moghul]

Whenever he was fit and available, he was in great form, even close to his retirement at 39.

 

[Robert]

The 1970s.

 

[subshakerz]

There are a few phases in Imran's career:

1971 - Debut as pretty much a rubbish player

1974 - 1979 - Imran was not really much of a batman, but this era saw him transform into a proper though still inconsistent fast strike bowler.

1980 - 1988 - Imran post-WSC was at his bowling peak and among the best fast bowlers ever, as well as a proper lower order batsman, this was his all-rounder era.

1989 - 1992 - Imran's bowler was just part-time support level but his batting went to the next level and he was perhaps the best and most consistent bat in the team.

So from the above, outside of his formative years in the 70s, he never really had a bad patch collectively with bat and ball.

 

[gazza619]

There are a few phases in Imran's career:

1971 - Debut as pretty much a rubbish player

1974 - 1979 - Imran was not really much of a batman, but this era saw him transform into a proper though still inconsistent fast strike bowler.

1980 - 1988 - Imran post-WSC was at his bowling peak and among the best fast bowlers ever, as well as a proper lower order batsman, this was his all-rounder era.

1989 - 1992 - Imran's bowler was just part-time support level but his batting went to the next level and he was perhaps the best and most consistent bat in the team.

So from the above, outside of his formative years in the 70s, he never really had a bad patch collectively with bat and ball.

Good analysis. As i look back at old videos from the 70’s when Imran’s batting wasnt developed he never looked like a tail ender. He always had a price tag on his wicket. No unnecessary ugly hoiks. He was a super human. Wish we can find half an Imran Khan somewhere.

 

[Minnowbasher]

He was the GOAT

 

[Haroon786]

I'd say the years of wilderness after getting dropped initially and then embarking on his first comeback, the mid 1970s. I don't have the stats on hand but I'm pretty sure he was already top class in the latter part of the 70s and would begin to peak during the early 1980s.