Irfan A Contender To Replace Praveen For Australia Tour

MUMBAI: At 18, Irfan Pathan was hailed as 'the next big thing in Indian cricket'. The next superstar, as he bowled his way into the hearts of fans, with his prodigious swing back in 2003.

At 21, three years later, he became 'Indian cricket's biggest tragedy'. He was even back from the South African tour in December 2006 because of poor form.

Since then, there has been nothing but a fight to stay fit and come back into the Indian team. For the last two years, Pathan has been so badly hit by a back injury that he wasn't able to play a single first class match.

At 27, he again presents a strong case to replace an injured Praveen Kumar in the squad for the Test series in Australia.

Playing after a lengthy gap following injuries to his back and hamstring, the left-arm seamer has made an impact. Irfan has taken 21 wickets in four Ranji games for Baroda so far this season. It is a haul that includes three five-fors which have come at a measly average of 14.14.

Though he faces stiff competition from Karnataka seamers Abhimanyu Mithun and Vinay Kumar and a few others too, the 'decision-makers' may tilt more towards Irfan's all-round package and experience, especially in Australian conditions. Sreesanth's ouster from the race due to injury has only boosted the Baroda man's case.

Most of the experts TOI spoke to -- including a few national selectors -- were excited with Irfan's return.

TA Sekhar, the bowling consultant with Delhi Daredevils, saw Irfan bowl at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi, where he took seven for 114.

"He is a much improved bowler now because he is getting the ball to move both ways. I saw him bowl in Delhi and was quite impressed. A left-arm seamer is at his best when he brings the ball into the right-hander," Sekhar told TOI.

With Irfan, the pertinent point, besides swing, is pace. Is he up to it? "He was never that quick, but if you can move the ball while clocking around 132 km/hr, it is good enough," reasons Sekhar.

"He is a hard working cricketer, and that shows in his comeback performances, as well as his fitness," says a national selector.

A member of the national selection panel spells out where Irfan holds the edge. "In Irfan's case, he is an all-rounder and at present, India needs all-rounders," he says.

There are skeptics too. Like Rajat Bhatia, who was part of the seven scalps which Pathan took against Delhi at the Kotla.

"He was getting the ball to move, but he was bowling around 118 km/hr and at that pace he is going to put little fear in the minds of Aussie batsmen," says Bhatia.

Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar is even more blunt.

"Let's not get excited over Pathan because he is taking wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Against Delhi, it took him 30 overs to take seven wickets. In the same match, Ashish Nehra took nine wickets. Why are we ignoring him? The important thing is, is he bowling fast? If he can't touch 135, there is no point taking him Down Under," he says.