Why you should look forward to watching Yusuf Pathan play in the IPL

Nowadays, people often complain about how IPL does not have the same feel to it anymore. Their concerns probably arise due to the presence of many more International leagues now, or the fact that there’s a lot of cricket happening now. I slightly disagree here. I have my reasons to look forward to it, every year. Because players like Yusuf Pathan feature in it.

Last year, it was during Gujarat Lions v Kolkata Knight Riders at Green Park when I first saw Yusuf Pathan play, right in front of me. And believe me when I say I’m not a KKR fan, but I look forward to watching this particular player perform. We hardly get to watch him on screen anymore, anyway. Apart from his domestic stints, I take the opportunity that the IPL gives, to revel in performances like his.

An immaculately skilled T20-specialist who is a clean hitter of the cricket ball possesses muscle power and a great hand-eye coordination is most attractive to watch in the IPL. And Yusuf Pathan is just that. Pathan’s reputation before the IPL was majorly based on his performances in the domestic circuit and his debut at the World T20 final a year prior to that.

We often enjoy and appreciate the Windies dominance in the shortest format, but we forget that someone from our very own country showed us glimpses of the dominance, years back. If players now can slightly attempt to replicate Pathan’s prowess, even top-edges from an Indian’s bat are bound to deposit the ball into the stands.

His initial stint at Rajasthan Royals meant that he now crystallized the tag of one of the most dangerous power hitters that could swing the games in his side’s favour. This reputation has as has only gotten more concrete over the seasons, and the fact that he is one of the fastest IPL scorers is established by numbers: 2761 runs in 122 innings and a Strike Rate of 146.78.

He is among the top-15 run-getters in the IPL history. And holds various other records to his name. He scored a 15-ball half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2014 edition, that remains the fastest IPL fifty till date. In 2010, he also scored a 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians, the then fastest IPL century. His inning included 11 consecutive hits to the boundary: 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4.

These two are sure shot features among the list of the most memorable innings in the league’s history.

We saw the nostalgia of his game-changing cameos lower down the order that sent shivers down the opponent’s spine, resurfacing in the previous edition, when he along with Andre Russell decide to unleash some serious savagery together. I still remember the commentators going gaga as they said, “Why would you want to be a bowler at this time?”

A bowler’s nightmare, personified.

In T20, momentum is emphasized and you will agree when I say that the format is meant for a certain genre of players. Players like him best suit the format majorly because of swaying the momentum into their own favour, single-handedly. You will not be able to count on your fingers the number of times he has been able to do that for his sides, whether it’s for India, Baroda, Rajasthan Royals or even Kolkata Knight Riders.

A batsman capable of creating a sudden impact, indeed.

This year, he will be raring to replicate some the annihilation he has caused in the past, more so, because the responsibility finishing the game and powering KKR into more memorable victories lies upon him, due to Russell’s absence. This makes it one of the biggest factors for why you should look forward to some carnage from him.

And, I look forward to the IPL just excitedly as I did in the previous editions. And, perhaps one of my major reasons for the anticipation this year is the thrill, surprise and drama someone like Yusuf Pathan brings to the game.

Your chips could be down and out, but you never know, what’s in store for you if he decides to seize the moment and make it his own- that’s Yusuf Pathan for you.