The Return of Irfan Pathan?

Irfan Pathan was once the answer to a question, and the all-rounder India so dearly needed and had, then his form fell and he became a shadow, that India tried hard to hold on to, and finally went into exile as the all-rounder India could have had, and the player he could have been.  Many comebacks along the way saw him remain in the selector's frame, and still remain as the all-rounder India searched for, and now his performances in the just concluded India -Sri Lanka ODI series, has once again lighted the small flame of hope, that Pathan has returned to the Indian fold, to be that all-rounder and that answer that has been left unanswered for a few years now.

Pathan - the all rounder India searches for

The interesting thing here is that Irfan Pathan wasn't supposed to tour Sri Lanka and wasn't the Indian selector's first choice after a mediocre IPL season, but that changed with an unfortunate injury to Vinay Kumar.  Pathan got Kumar's ticket and yet another chance to prove to the selectors, the fans, and most of all to himself that he still could be India's answer to the all-rounder question.

Pathan ever since the slump in form had lost his bowling.  His batting improved, but his bowling hit rock bottom, and it was Pathan, the bowler that India needed more than Pathan the batsman.  However the time away from the International arena gave the Baroda boy a chance to slowly rediscover himself and regain much of the magic he once had with the leather ball.  He wasn't up to his prime but he was back and that was enough.

Pathan celebrates his 5 wicket haul in the 5th ODI

The five wicket haul yesterday - Pathan's second in ODIs - held much importance and his face after bowling  Sachithra Senanayake off the last ball in his spell betrayed a amalgamation of emotions.  First joy and exhalation as he jumped into the air with his hand up high and then the slow relief, happiness, and realization flooded through him as he kept glancing at the skies in almost a state of disbelief and thanking the stars.

Pathan and Raina were involved in a undefeated 92 runs partnership in the 3rd ODI that saw India home in the very last over

Pathan in the series hasn't really had an exceptional run like Kohli did and his numbers from the 5 ODIs don't set the world on fire, but what they do is show that there is still a fire burning within Pathan and that India can do with a player like him.  With the bat, Pathan scored 76 runs at a strike rate of 92.68, which is exactly what was expected from him walking in at 8.  His match winning partnership with Raina in the third ODI perhaps is the best testament of the extra strength the Indian batting derives with Pathan in the team and his value with the bat.

With the ball Pathan was again decent with 8 wickets at an average of 26.37 - one of India's better bowlers in the series.  Pathan showed signs of his past brilliance and his early strikes in the series with the ball certainly was a key in India's 4-1 victory.  Under overcast conditions he did get the ball to swing around, and surely is more than one can reckon on a pitch offering assistance.

The Answer

Is this the comeback and the redemption song for Pathan?  I would certainly like to think so, but there's still some way to go.  Whatever the case, his performances in the emerald isles has put him back in center stage and an Indian team with an in-form Irfan Pathan in any form of cricket is a more balanced and versatile team.  Pathan still remains the India's answer to questions about team combinations and flexibility and his return will only do the team good.

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Posted in: Columns,India,Irfan Pathan,Kohli,Sri Lanka,Vinay Kumar