Irfan Pathan's exploits in Australia and Pakistan may have earned him the tag of new pace spearhead but the young speedster is determined not to allow the accolades to distract him.
Pathan said the emergence of many young fast bowlers had brought about a healthy competition but he believed that it did not put any undue pressure on him.
"If I think too much about what I should do then pressure will build on me. I am always focussed to maintain the line and length. I never get into such a situation and allow pressure to build up," Pathan told reporters on Tuesday.
"As far as I am concerned my performance and the team's victory matter the most. We all want to perform well for the team's cause," the Baroda pacer said.
Asked whether the emergence of young bowlers knocking at the doors of team selection put more pressure on him, he said "I do not think there is any pressure, whoever bowls well will definitely find a place in the team. I do not think there is any pressure. We learn from each other."
Pathan said his interactions with bowling legends like Dennis Lillee and Kapil Dev had helped him to perform better.
{{/usCountry}}Pathan said his interactions with bowling legends like Dennis Lillee and Kapil Dev had helped him to perform better.
{{/usCountry}}"Definitely, it helps. Talking to great bowlers, especially Lillee at the MRF Academy had definitely helped me to the extend that I was able to perform better.
"Lillee had been a great bowler. Learning from such great bowlers is a healthy one. Especially with Lillee I had worked with my action and he gave me tips on avoiding injuries," he said.
"The seniors in the team like Zaheer Khan, Asish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar always help us, especially youngsters like me. I have consistently improved a lot making good of their advice.
"When I started my international career I wavered a lot. I used to swing the ball too much and this resulted in lot of wide balls. With each passing game I improved a lot," he said.
Pathan said he was not planning to become an all-rounder and was only concentrating on improving his bowling.
"I'm there in the team because of my bowling. Batting will automatically come if I keep playing for India. But for the present I am concentrating more on bowling," he said.
The Baroda youngster spoke highly of coach John Wright "who was working very hard with everybody".
"Wright is doing a great job. I cannot speak on other former great players coming and helping us during camps. It is the Board's decision. I am just a newcomer and everything is going on in the right direction," he said.
On whether life has changed for him after making it to the Indian team, he said "I never used to be so busy. Playing for India is one achievement and to stay in the team is a very big achievement. We do not get much time to go around. Now I spend a lot of time in the gymnasium and training."
Asked whether he was looking forward to snare the Pakistani batsmen again in the Asia Cup beginning later this month, Pathan said "I do not think on those lines or feel proud of my past. First of all, I had to get myself selected for the tour. Hopefully, I will be in the squad. And I will be focussed for a good performance in the Asia Cup".
He also downplayed another showdown with Pakistan vice-captain Yousuf Youhana, whom he dismissed a number of times in the historic series in March-April, in Colombo.
"It happened in the past and I will look forward to take every body's wicket and not only Yousuf's. Whenever I play for India I do not plan to get a particular batsman out. I wish to take the wicket of each of the batsman I bowl to," he said.
Asked to guess how many fast bowlers will find place in the Indian team for the Asia Cup, Pathan said "it is the job of selectors and I am there only to bowl and come up with a good performance."