His career has been marred by injuries. As others gallop to the finish line, Irfan Pathan has been stopped in his tracks often. He has seen Ashish Nehra, his senior in the Indian team, make an India return and Hardik Pandya, his understudy in Baroda, earn a maiden national call-up.
But the Baroda captain is not wasting time lamenting about injuries that have pushed his career back. Instead, a much fitter Irfan is keen on making up for the lost time. The all-rounder who has been performing both the duties with aplomb this season, told BCCI.TV that he has added few new chapters to his overall game.
Excerpts from the interview:
Baroda have been winners of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy twice and are once again looking good.
I am very happy with the way the boys are performing. The team is gelling well and performing well together. Unfortunately, the last two domestic seasons did not go too well for Baroda and we wanted to make sure we qualify for the knockouts this year. That was one aim at the start of the tournament. Considering the kind of team we have, not qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy was disappointing. We have a new coach in Jacob Martin and he is handling the team very well.
Earlier the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was an inter-zonal competition. Now teams are divided into groups and play the tournament in two phases. What do you make of this change in the format?
The new format, not only for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but also for the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been fantastic. It has been a great job on the BCCI's part. Earlier, with Inter-Zonal format, teams kept playing each other for years. It would get monotonous. The level of cricket also stays low.
By having four groups from this year (2015-16), you get to play against new teams. Now you have to think on your feet. You need to think quickly, and when that happens, the standard of cricket is going to go up. I really think this is a step forward and it will benefit many young cricketers. They will have to try and match the next level (of competition), which will eventually benefit Indian Cricket. If you look at the T20 tournament, you don't play the knockouts, but you have three opportunities in the Super League stage to showcase your talent.
The other good thing is that these matches are telecast live and I want to congratulate the BCCI and Star Sports for the same. It gives so much exposure to so many cricketers. I grew up watching County Cricket. Now, when I see that our domestic cricket is telecast live, it makes me very happy.
It has been an all-round show from you this season. In your first T20, you picked up a five-for and later delivered with the bat too.
I am very happy with the way I have gone about my business in all three formats of the game. There have been many positives for me. I have been taking the side till the very end with a S/R of close to 150 and then staying not-out. I have also taken wickets at crucial times. My fitness has been very good. When I played the Ranji Trophy this season, there were a few things happening and I don't want to talk about it.
But my fitness was pretty good and I was fit and available. I bowled 20-25 overs in each innings of the Ranji Trophy matches. That's my fitness there. When you bowl 20-25 overs in an innings, you easily bowl about 40-45 overs in a match. I have been able to do that with my batting as well. I am really happy with my fitness and that has actually helped me play better cricket.
It is never easy to return after an injury. Would you say you are back to your best when it comes to bowling?
In terms of bowling, yes. The only thing is that the more you bowl, the better you get. But I am really happy with my batting. The one part about my batting I wanted to improve was to hit the long ball. Earlier, I needed to step out to hit the ball but now I can stand and deliver. I have been working on my bottom hand from the last two seasons, and this season it is paying off. Now, if I want to maneuver the ball, I can do that, or if I want to hit it hard, I can do that as well.
Bowling has always been my forte. I really feel I am pretty good with my bowling and I think it is only going to get better. The good thing is I am bowling in the right areas, swinging the ball, the zip is there and I just want to keep continue doing that.
You now seem to be in complete flow, but how difficult was it when you were injured. What have those injuries taught you?
Handling injuries is not easy. It is not easy for anyone, but as a sportsman, you have to accept that. Bowling is not a natural phenomenon to the body. There is lot of turn and twist and it will take a toll on your body. I take it as a part and parcel of a sportsman's life. You stay mentally very strong and that's what I am.
We have this new crop of all-rounders coming up in India. What is your take on that?
The most important thing for an all-rounder is to make sure he stays fit. You have to be ready for that and you need to prepare for that. At the same time, strength, flexibility and recovery are very important. It is good that we are now seeing more all-rounders, but they need to look after themselves. Having more all-rounders is better for Indian cricket.
Ashish Nehra has been your India team mate and you were also in the same IPL franchise. He has made a comeback. Considering you did so well in the 2007 World T20, the upcoming World T20 must be at the back of your mind.
I would like to congratulate Ashish Nehra. Making a comeback is never easy but he did that and all credit to him. I wish him all the luck for the Australian tour.
Talking about my personal form, I thought to myself that I will not talk about my comeback and I maintained that throughout the season. Whoever plays first-class and domestic cricket, the aim is to play for India. For me, playing for the country is ultimate. I am no different and I want to do that as well, but I don't want to talk too much about it. My job is to go out there and perform for whichever team I play for. Right now I am playing for Baroda. I wanted to take a five-wicket haul and I did that in my first T20 game and got a six-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy as well. I wanted to score lots of runs and win matches. As a player I can make sure I keep performing and stay fit.
Performing and learning is something that never stops. Along the way, if that (India call-up) happens, well and good. I would be lying if I say I don't think about it. I do think about it, but don't want to talk much about it.
But does seeing Ashish Nehra return give you hope that there is a big scope for experienced players even as young players are joining the Indian side?
Experience is going to have a big place in cricket. To have an experienced bowler in the team makes it easy for other bowlers. That is what I am trying to do with Baroda. As a leader of the pack, I want to help out other bowlers.
I am sure Ashish Nehra will not only do well for himself, but guide other guys as well. With age, comes experience. Earlier, I used to hardly bowl out-swingers. I only bowled the in-swingers. Now, with my experience, I can bowl the away going delivery as well whenever I want to. I can bowl different kinds of slower deliveries as well.
Hardik Pandya has said he watches you and copies your training style. You have played a big role in his growth as an all-rounder.
When I saw him in the nets, I was very impressed with him. I spoke to our then coach Sanath Kumar and we wanted him to get going in the team. Any team with two-three all-rounders will be very successful. India's 1983 World Cup team had two-three all-rounders. For Baroda, I always wanted a leg-spinner and two-three all-rounders. With Hardik and me as fast bowling all-rounders it is really helping the team.
