Hopes To Make ODI Comeback With Good Performance
India have announced a string of replacements following a spate of injuries to their main squad, but surprisingly the big-hitting Yusuf Pathan is nowhere in the picture. The team management has instead opted for another utility player in Ravindra Jadeja and a specialist batsman in Manoj Tiwary as the latest recruits.
A regular in the One-day squad not too long back with the rare capability to change a game with his bat, the senior Pathan brother has been totally left out in the cold.
Yusuf knows he wasn’t able to get big scores in his last few matches and says he is prepared to prove his worth allover again.Having missed out on a berth to England, the upcoming Champions League T20 tournament, in which he will be representing the Knight Riders, is the next best opportunity to remind selectors of his presence.
“My jobisto playcricket, which I do to the best of my ability. I’m no one to comment on selection matters. All I can tell you is that I’m working hard on my batting and am ready for any challenge which comes my way,” Pathan told TOI on Tuesday, adding: “Right now, my priority is to play well in the Champions League for the Knight Riders and our camp is going tostartfrom Sept10. I’m getting ready for it and hopefully, we’ll do something special this time. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. If I’m able to score big, I know I’ll be considered for the national team.”
Yusuf ’s last ODI outings in the West Indies were a forgettable experience but he says the run of poor scores taught him some valuable lessons. “We learn a lot when wefail.Batting atNo. 6 or No. 7 is not an easy job because you get very few deliveries to settle down. You just have to go out there and play your shots. It’s very challenging and I was able to do it at times. On other occasions, I failed. But cricket is not over for me,” Yusuf said.
“I have made comebacks earlier. Last year around this time, I was not a part of the Indian team, but I got a break during the New Zealand series at home and scored some runs. Again in South Africa, I got the opportunity to prove myworth and I was able to contribute. I’m ready to bat at any position, in any situation.”
Even though he is not in the scheme of things, Yusuf is following the England series closely and hasn’t given up hope that India will bounce back. “The Test series didn’t go well for our team but that can happen. We are the World Cup winners. So what if some of the stars are missing? We still have a good team and I’m sure we’ll win the ODI series,” he said. “I know our performances haven’t been convincing but too many injuries spoiled the show.”
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