Trust Yusuf Pathan to make the impossible possible. He did it in on more than a few occasions in the Indian Premier League, but his achievement in the Duleep Trophy final on Saturday surpassed expectations. The older of the Pathan siblings spoke to the Hindustan Times on Sunday.
Excerpts:
How do you think this innings will change you as a player?
Any cricketer becomes more confident after such a knock. Now I will believe that I can help my team win from any situation if I apply myself properly.
I will carry forward a lot of self belief into the zonal one-dayers (beginning on February 10). I have improved my skills as a one-day player and want to apply them in those games.
Do you think you have to work on your bowling to win your India place back?
In domestic cricket, I have bowled in pressure situations including powerplays and got breakthroughs too. My job is to restrict batsmen so that there is less pressure on those bowling from the other end. There isn’t much else that I can do. And I’m not competing with anybody for a place in the ODI side.
In recent times, those who have done well in domestic cricket have got chances to play international cricket. So I will live in hope.
Do you think you can hit every delivery?
That’s the perception people have and I do not blame them because they have seen me playing aggressive cricket most of the time.
I do what comes naturally to me. I know that every ball can’t be hit for a six or four and I do block the good deliveries. Having said that, I’m always looking for opportunities to score. When I get even a hint of a chance, I go for it.
Do you think you can hit every delivery?
That’s the perception people have and I do not blame them because they have seen me playing aggressive cricket most of the time.
I do what comes naturally to me. I know that every ball can’t be hit for a six or four and I do block the good deliveries. Having said that, I’m always looking for opportunities to score. When I get even a hint of a chance, I go for it.
What gives you the confidence ‘to go for it’ so often?
That is difficult to explain. It’s a question of instinct, to quickly identify balls that can be hit and then give it everything. I know that not many batsmen play like that. That this approach has brought me success, gives me the confidence to continue playing that way.