Published: Mar 09, 2011, 09:13 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 05, 2014, 03:54 PM (IST)
Yusuf Pathan is a treat to watch when on song © Getty Images
By Mayank Jhaveri
The few glimpses one had of Yusuf Pathan in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, which India won, was not enough to pass judgment on him. Then came IPL 2008 and Yusuf, like his younger brother, became a household name after amassing 435 runs at a strike rate of 179 runs per 100 balls.
People watched in awe at his ability to effortless hitting clean and long under pressure. Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals captain, took an instant liking for Yusuf who scored runs in crucial matches – including the final – to play a pivotal role in helping underdogs Royals win the championship. There was no doubting his ability to smash spinners and medium-pacers alike out of the park.
Soon, he was picked in India‘s ODI squad. From his debut till the end of 2009, he featured in 29 ODIs, playing 20 innings at an average of just 20 and strike rate of 98. Often, he was seen throwing his wicket away due to lack of patience.
One such instance, I remember, was in New Zealand, when he was caught trying to hit Nathan McCullum for a third six in three balls in a T20 game. After a while, I felt he wasn’t the right man for the No 7 spot. Word about his inability to play short pitched bowling had spread, and that did not help his cause.
From 2010 onwards, Yusuf has played 11 innings at an average of 49 with two superb centuries and a well-fought fifty. In these 11 innings, he was scoring 125 runs per 100 balls, way better than earlier strike-rate of 98. What really happened to cause this drastic change in statistics?
Two things: Determination and patience. The two hundreds that he scored reflected those qualities. The unbeaten 123 against New Zealand showed he had learned to be patient. In spite, of Daniel Vettori inviting him to attack with loopy deliveries, he waited till he was well set and then finished the game off in style. Yusuf showed far more maturity then he had in New Zealand.
His second hundred came on the tour of South Africa and, significantly, when India were in a really bad position. This knock showed his sheer determination and will. He wasn’t finding it easy to cope up with the red hot pace of Dale Steyn and Mornie Morkel, but kept going. He kept taking body blows at over 140 kmph.
It didn’t look pretty, but you have to give it to him for his guts to stand up to these men. In spite of these weaknesses, he managed a 68-ball century with eight sixes. It was an innings of substance and showcased his fighting character.
He never lost confidence on his abilities but made sure he worked on the mental aspect of the game. The result has been very promising so far. Today, he is more consistent than ever before.
It is often said, that fifty percent of anything has got more to do with the mind, while the other fifty percent is dependent on talent and hard work.
Yusuf has already left his mark in the ongoing World Cup with blistering 30 not out off 24 balls against Ireland. He came in at a time when there was still some pressure on India and had he got out early, India could well have lost the match. But he went on the rampage straight away, slamming three sixes and two fours to change the complexion of the game in a flash.
There is no doubt that Yusuf is an entertainer par excellence.
(Mayank Jhaveri is a 19-year-old New Delhi-based cricket freak who blogs at http://freehit-cricketanalysis.blogspot.com)
