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Yusuf Pathan relishing new role
20 Apr, 2017
Yusuf Pathan relishing new role
20 Apr, 2017
Yusuf Pathan had a silent start to this year’s IPL. But an unbeaten quick-fire 21 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad was a pointer of things to come. He followed it up with a match-winning half-century against the Delhi Daredevils in a crunch chase of 169. He shared a century stand with Manish Pandey when the team was in doldrums. Pandey finished off the chase in style, not before Pathan had played a blinder of an innings.
Pathan though wished he had stayed till the end and finished it off for his side especially after all the hardwork he had put in during his innings of 59. “I should have finished that game. When a set batsman is out, it is never easy for a new batsman to get his eye in and get scoring,” Pathan said. “I regret that I could not finish the game after batting so well. After batting in that fashion, if I could not finish then it's a crime for me. I got out after getting set and the match went down to the wire. Next time, I will try to finish the match with one or two overs to spare.”
Pathan was mic’d up in one of the games and was asked by Sunil Gavaskar over commentary about his role for the Knight Riders this year. Pathan said there has been no change in his batting style, but the intent is to play the long innings. “I am enjoying this new role a lot. I hope everyone else is enjoying watching me play too. I am feeling great. I have not changed my game, style or aggression. It is just that I am getting more overs to play. I will continue to play aggressively but stay till the end.”
One thing is certain, if Pathan continues to bat the way he has done over his last two innings, troubled times lie ahead for the opposition. KKR play Gujarat Lions next at Eden Gardens and will be looking to extend their purple patch against a side that has lost four out of their five games this season. The home team though had no intentions of taking the Lions lightly. “They are a quality side and at any stage of the competition you cannot take any side lightly. No team is a weak side in this competition. Our focus will be to play good cricket and maintain a good position in the standings. Gujarat Lions have some quality players like Brendon McCullum who has scored against us in the past. Hope he doesn’t score big against us,” Pathan signed off.
