It is perhaps not mere coincidence that both of Irfan Pathan’s outings at number three in the tri-series have come against Australia. Strangely, both those efforts were when India were chasing modest totals, and Pathan’s brief wasn’t to go out and have a dash but to play like a normal batsman. Strange, because there are technically better equipped specialist batsmen whose job it is to see the team home.
“I am ready to do whatever my team decides, I keep my eyes and ears open,” Pathan told newsmen on Monday evening, on a day of optional nets for the Indians. “I had already been told that if this was the eleven we picked, I would have to bat at number three.”
Asked what his role at number three was, the Baroda all-rounder replied, “When I am given a special instruction, like if the target is big, I have to play my shots. If the target is not big, I have to play like a normal batsman and not too hit any big shots.”
Pathan was India’s stand-out bowler with four for 41 as Australia were restricted to 203 for nine, a total India fell short of by 50 runs. Did it frustrate and disappoint the bowler in him to see the batsmen throw it all away? “When the batting does not click, you feel bad,” he acknowledged. “But at the end of the day, it's a team game. Things like this are going to happen. It is frustrating but we have to move on. People fall but they have to pick themselves up quickly and start walking. That is what we have to do.
“We have to give young batsmen time, they are going to learn. The kind of setbacks can be good for the players. We all will look back and see what went wrong and where we could have done better. Obviously, no one likes losing, everyone hates it. We go out there wanting to win. But you have to accept that sometimes you won't play well. You have to learn from it. It will definitely help.” India played four quicks in a one-day game for the first time in a while. “Everyone is different,” Pathan offered. “It feels good, it doesn't happen quite happen with the Indian team that we play four pacers. Personally, I just try to do my job and definitely try to help the team.”
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s match against Sri Lanka, Pathan went on, “There will be pressure on both teams to win. We have played one game more than Sri Lanka but even so, they still have fewer points than us. It will be a very good game tomorrow.”
Pathan disagreed that Sri Lanka were top-heavy in their batting. “They are a very good team, they played the World Cup final last year. Getting early wickets will put any team under pressure, but I don't agree that if we get three wickets, they will be in trouble. They bat quite deep. They haven't done very well till now, but we have got to be on our toes tomorrow.”