KOLKATA: Irfan Pathan, back from injury and "enjoying every moment" of his time with the game, should have been raring to go as Team Delhi prepare for their opening battle in IPL 5 against Team Kolkata on Thursday at Eden Gardens. Instead, he's left with mixed feelings.
"This is the only game of cricket that I don't enjoy. It's something I think I can't handle," Irfan declared at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday as the prospect of taking on brother Yusuf loomed on the horizon. "Otherwise, I love this game; I want to play every day if I can. Honestly, I didn't think it would be upon me first up in the IPL," he added in the same breath.
Then, almost as if he was admonishing himself, the all-rounder reminded that "we are professional cricketers and have to be honest to our teams" before he conjured up a likely and 'dreaded' scenario.
"Just yesterday we were talking and I told him that hope a situation doesn't arise where I'm bowling the last over to him with 10 or 15 runs required. This is the only time I'd be thinking negative; otherwise I love a challenge," he said, before settling for a 'solution'. "The best would be if he scores a 50 or a 100 and we go on to win the match," Irfan smiled.
With Wasim Akram around as Team Kolkata's bowling consultant, is he going to seek his tips too?
"It's too short a time. I only got to say a 'hello' today," said Irfan, who sees Team Kolkata as having "some of the most talented cricketers in the IPL and a good leader in Gautam Gambhir".
Irfan views his comeback from a career-threatening back injury as his "second innings". "This is god's gift. I am enjoying every moment, whether it's boarding the bus or practising. I am counting my blessings," he said.
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