Yusuf Pathan hopeful about KKR retaining him for the upcoming IPL season

Lately, Yusuf Pathan has been making the news for not the best of reasons yet the Baroda all-rounder is gearing up to take part in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from April 6. Pathan, who has played for Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, is among the 578 players that will go under the hammer on January 27 and 28 at the IPL auction in Bengaluru.

The Baroda cricketer played for Rajasthan Royals for first three seasons (2008, 2009 and 2010) of the cash-rich league before he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011 and has played for them till the tenth edition. He was one of those cricketers who were suspended for five months due to a doping violation. However, his focus is on the game now that the ban is over.

“I still go to the crease with the mindset of hitting the ball out of the park,” Pathan said. “I don’t know which team will opt for me but I am open to play for any franchisee whoever goes for me. I will play with same enthusiasm and attitude, the way I have been for years,” a confident Pathan added. “I have played a lot of cricket with both teams but majorly with KKR. When you spend a lot of time with a team, you get attached and that’s what happened with me. I am really attached to both teams,” Pathan told NDTV.

I will be really happy if KKR buy me using the RTM

Having retained Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, the Kolkata outfit are left with three right-to-match (RTM) cards. The side has a plethora of options to choose from, for example, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav. Yet, Pathan hopes that he will be retained via RTM and said he will be really happy to go back to his team where he spent seven seasons.

“I will be really happy if KKR buy me using RTM. I am ready to join the KKR force any day. I have spent seven seasons at KKR. I will be happy to go back with the team where I have spent seven seasons. This team has given me a lot,” Pathan said. “This IPL will see a different Yusuf Pathan. That’s a promise,” the Baroda cricketer said.

With 2904 runs in 149 matches, Pathan is 12th overall highest-run getter in the history of the IPL. He also has 146 sixes to his name in the cash-rich league. He has several records to his name in IPL like the half-century off just 15 balls (against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013), a record which stayed for three seasons before his compatriot Sunil Narine equalled in May 2017.

He is also the second fastest centurion in the history of IPL. Playing for Rajasthan Royals in 2010, Pathan took just 37 balls to score a mind-boggling century against Mumbai Indians and out of the many records, the century against Mumbai Indians will also be close to Pathan’s heart.

“It’s a different feeling altogether when you hit a century. And when you single-handedly take your team to a win, then the feeling is beyond words. Century against Mumbai Indians will always be close to my heart,” Pathan said.

He also spoke about the five-month ban that kept him out of the game till January 14 because he was mistakenly given Terbutaline, instead of the medication prescribed for him, which did not contain any prohibited substance.

“It’s a big mistake. I don’t have any explanation. I took it by mistake. I just wish to thank the BCCI for allowing me to plead my case in a fair and reasonable manner. I am proud that I have played in national colours. I don’t want to do anything that can spoil my career. I will be more careful now,” Pathan signed off.