Irfan Pathan confident of Team India return
After quality performances in first class cricket, Indian allrounder Irfan Pathan is confident about his comeback to the national side. Owing to injuries and drop in form Pathan has been away from international cricket for the last three years. However, recent first class performances have boosted his confidence.
Talking about his dreams to represent India once again the cricketer told NDTV, “Every player who plays first class cricket dreams to play for India; that's why I am in the Ranji Trophy. I still have my dream very much alive to play for India. I just want to keep my mouth shut and keep playing. My aim is to keep performing, keep improving, and keep doing the right thing. If I perform, I am sure the people (selectors) who are there will notice. My performance will speak for me.”
Pathan also added that making a comeback is not easy and he wants to put his experience of so many years in use. “Making a comeback is never easy for anyone. I know, as I have done it before. I want to use my experience that I have for so many years. Experience is something I have with me now and it is paying off really well. I am getting wickets because of my experience. Getting used to four-day format will help me get into any formats of international cricket,” he said.
Impressive performance in Ranji Trophy
This cricketer from Baroda recently had a good run at the first class season. In Baroda’s Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat, apart from scoring 73 runs he picked six wickets, conceding 47 runs. In the match against Punjab he scored 18 runs and bagged 6 wickets, allowing 80 runs.
The left-arm seamer is confident about his fitness. While talking about his recent first class performances he said, “I have got back to full fitness. Before the season I was preparing well and the best part was that I was fit from the start. All I needed was to perform really well, which I did against Gujarat. The pitch was slow and flat, but I got six wickets on that wicket and that gave me a lot of confidence. More because when you get wickets in a slow track by bowling someone out or a leg before wicket, that gives you a lot of confidence. I carried the confidence also against Punjab in my second match, took wickets and we won the match.”
Irfan feels age is not a factor
Age is just a number for the 31-year-old. Also, he feels that India is currently in need of a seaming allrounder. “Right now the World No.1 Test bowler Dale Steyn is 32. So I don't think I will have a problem. Also India is currently looking for an experienced seaming all-rounder. I can even mentor the young seamers,” he said.
The cricketer who has played under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni, refused to pick a favourite. He also spoke highly of the current Test team captain, Virat Kohli. “All the three captains, Ganguly, Dravid and Dhoni, I have played under were wonderful. All three had a different style of leading a side. It will be hard and unfair to pick one. Now Virat Kohli is displaying a quite exciting leadership as well,” Irfan said.