Yusuf Pathan – An enigmatic maverick lacking consistency

Three seasons with the Kolkata Knight Riders have seen the Baroda player far below his best though. His recent innings against West Indies ‘A’ in the first unofficial ODI was followed by yet another flop in the second.

Like team-mate Robin Uthappa, consistency has been Yusuf’s bane ever since his entry into, and relegation from, international cricket. He tends to play too many shots early on without moving his feet, and has noticeably struggled against spin in recent times.

KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir has publicly stated that the elder Pathan is a ‘big-game, big-impact’ player with the ability to change the course of any match single-handedly.

That is a true statement, considering the fact that it is his side that bears the brunt of the ‘impact’ generated by the 31-year-old’s all-too-frequent quick exit at crucial junctures, resulting in an eventual collapse.

Had this been a one-off occurrence, most would have forgotten it quickly. But Yusuf continues to flatter to deceive, and his inconsistency simply does not merit the hefty price tag accorded to him; this is certainly not the kind of ‘impact’ Gambhir was talking about, surely?

Is Yusuf Pathan truly a ‘big match player’?

Yusuf is the kind of batsman who rarely changes his approach. Bowlers know of his penchant for plonking his front foot forward and sending the ball into orbit either straight down the ground or over the leg side.

So they bowl fast, short-pitched stuff at him, forcing him on to the back-foot. In the case of spinners, they bowl wicket-to-wicket, thus cutting off his bread-and-butter strokes and making him rely on ones and twos.

This puts him in a tight spot, from which he tries to muscle his way out, and that leads to his downfall. Now what kind of big-game player would do this? Even Dhoni plays himself in before bringing out the heavy artillery, and he has thrown out the book on technique.

Pathan’s recent travails have left fans, team-mates and officials exasperated; he now thrives on reputation alone. He is no Salim Durani, who would hit a six into the stands on crowd’s demand, yet he tries to play to the gallery a lot.

The tendency to send the ball zooming into the skies often clouds his judgement, and it is his stubborn refusal to adjust his game depending on the situation that is hampering his chances of a national comeback.

The future looks bleak for the Baroda Bomber; only consistent performances can give him a lifeline.

The ongoing series against West Indies and the Challenger Trophy might just be his last hope. For his own sake, it is imperative that he regains his form of old, and lights up the stands with his fireworks again for a long time to come. Redemption beckons.