Irfan Pathan burst on the scene as a talented 19-year-old seam bowler during India's last tour of Australia, in 2003-04. He made an immediate impact during his early years in international cricket and evoked comparison with the legendary Wasim Akram.
But just when India thought they found a worthy all-rounder to succeed the great Kapil Dev, things started going wrong for the left-armer. His bowling form suffered a sharp dip and by the end of last year he was dropped from the team in both forms of the game.
Just into his twenties, Pathan decided to get his career back on track and underwent a stint under the expert tutelage of T A Sekhar and Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Academy, in Chennai. His bowling rhythm and swing back, a good season for Baroda in domestic cricket followed. The 23-year-old was back in the Indian team for the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this year. He was one of the top performers with the ball in the tournament as India emerged the eventual winners. Things got better for the pacer and in a few months he cemented his place in both the Indian ODI and Test teams.
The left-arm pacer spoke exclusively to Special Correspondent Harish Kotian in Mumbai before embarking on the tough tour of Australia.
You returned to the Test side during the series against Pakistan after a long gap. How was it playing in Test matches again after nearly 18 months?
It was a good experience playing Tests again. I bowled well and I am feeling confident at the moment. Now it is just a matter of time before I get wickets. Otherwise, I think I am bowling well. I am very happy with my current bowling form.
How special is it to be going to Australia, the place where you made your international debut?
Obviously, the experience of the last tour in 2003-04 will help. It feels good that I am going back to where it all started for me. So it is like a full circle for me. Inshallah, I will try to make a new start and hope to do well in Australia.
The last time you toured Australia, you were a 19-year-old with nothing much to lose. This time though the team will be pinning much hope on your showing. Sure you must be keen to prove a few critics wrong. How do you look at it?
I do not think there is anything to prove to anyone after performing so much for the country. There is nothing to prove about my bowling, but, in international cricket, you constantly need to prove yourself with performances in every match you play. The team management is happy with my performance. I am bowling well at the moment and that is why I am in the team.
Australia is the world's top side and boast of the most dangerous batting line-up. As a bowler, does the thought of having to bowl at them scare you?
They have done well in cricket for the last few years. Whether it is Test cricket or one-dayers, they have done well in both forms of the game. They play aggressive cricket, so you also have to be aggressive when playing against them. It is a big challenge bowling to them, but I am confident of doing well.
You were out of the team for nearly a year before you made a comeback during the Twenty20 World Cup. What helped you get through the tough times when you were dropped?
I had a stint at the MRF Pace Academy, where TA Sekhar Sir and Dennis Lillee Sir helped me a lot. I am thankful to them for helping me improve my bowling. Now, in the Indian team, we have our bowling coach, Venkatesh Prasad, who is helping me out. The other senior members of the team also give useful tips and tell me to enjoy my cricket.
You always try to run away from the 'all-rounder' tag, saying your primary task is that of a bowler. After your maiden Test century, will we see you playing a bigger role with the bat?
I am not trying to run away from it. If I had done that, then I would have never scored a half-century or even a century. I like batting and enjoy whenever I come out to bat. Sometimes people try to create unnecessary pressures with regard to my batting, but I have always ignored it. I play the game from my heart, with a lot of passion and courage, and will continue doing so.
Yes, bowling is my first priority and I do enjoy it; but, then again, it is not that I don't enjoy my batting. I enjoy both, but my first priority has always been bowling and it will continue to remain so, no matter how well I bat in the future.
So, in that sense, how satisfying or important was your maiden Test century?
It was very important. When you score a century, you grow as a cricketer too. I hope this will definitely help me in the long term. I just can't sit thinking about the hundred, because every day is a new day and you need to keep performing every time you play. You need to keep getting better and better every time you perform.
