Feb. 8: A few years ago when Irfan Pathan’s batting stock was rising, the curly-haired lad stunned many in the cricketing circles by claiming that his elder brother had far better skills with the long handle.
It seemed like word of mouth advertising at that time, but Yusuf has shown through his spasmodic limited overs duty that while he many not be the most consistent batsman around, there are not many who can do what he can.
With him coming down the order and Virender Sehwag at the top, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will go into the World Cup with the knowledge that his talented yet prone-to-collapse middle-order is sandwiched by two men who can turn a game in an instant.
STRENGTHS
Shock value: If there’s a ball to be hit and an opposition to be shocked, Yusuf is the man for the job. In the fifth and final match of the ODI series in Centurion against South Africa last month, India looked dead and buried at 98/7 in the 20th over chasing 251 to win. In walked the big man and for the next 97 balls, the South African bowling attack was left clueless. He smashed a 68-ball century with eight fours and as many sixes to get India within touching distance of a target that had looked utterly unattainable.
Confidence: Pathan’s inability to counter the short ball was one reason why he was dropped from the team the last time. But in Centurion he took Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel’s short-pitched deliveries on the body and then gave it back his own way.
On sub-continental tracks the bounce will be more to his liking. Bowlers beware!
Yusuf possesses incredible self-faith and it shows through in ever word he says. “I back myself to win the game for India from any situation,” Yusuf said recently.
WEAKNESSES
Inconsistency: Yusuf debuted for India three years ago, but he has spent a majority of that time on the sidelines. He has failed with the bat far too often to make his place in the playing XI for the World Cup a cinch. He’s in form right now with 289 runs from his last five ODIs, but with his approach, it takes once false shot to end a good run.
His 105 in Centurion has increased the expectations from him and it remains to be seen how he manages to handle them. Dhoni considers him a match-winner who’s still in the making.
POSSIBLE FACE-OFF
Yusuf vs Stuart Board: Stuart Broad can be devastating on his day. He has carried the burden of England’s pace attack and can be expected to do the same in the World Cup. However, like Yuvraj Singh found with his five sixes against the bowler in 2007, Broad can crumble under pressure. Yusuf will back himself to clear the long-on fence of the Chinnaswamy Stadium against the bowler when the two sides meet in Bengaluru.