Will be Happy if KKR Buys Me Through RTM: Yusuf Pathan

Out of favour Indian all-rounder, Yusuf Pathan has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the recent past. However, he is all set to take part in the Indian Premier League, but given his form, it remains to be seen whether he gets a bid and gets selected. He is among the 578 players who are all set to go under the hammer on January 27 and 28 at the IPL Auction in Bengaluru.

During an exclusive interview with NDTV, Yusuf spoke on his batting form and also clarified on his dope ban.

“I still go to the crease with the mindset of hitting the ball out of the park,” Pathan said. “I don’t know which team will opt for me, but I am open to playing for any franchisee whoever goes for me. I will play with same enthusiasm and attitude, the way I have been for years,” he further added.

Yusuf represented two teams in the IPL. He played the first three seasons of the tournament for the Rajasthan Royals, and since 2011, he has been playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders and has won a couple of titles with them. They have retained Sunil Narine and Andre Russell for the 2018 edition and are left with three RTMs. He said he would be happy to go back to KKR as he has been part of the KKR unit for the last seven years.

“I will be really happy if KKR buy me using RTM. I am ready to join the KKR force any day. I have spent seven seasons at KKR. I will be happy to go back with the team where I have spent seven seasons. This team has given me a lot,” Pathan said. “This IPL will see a different Yusuf Pathan. That’s a promise,” said the hard-hitting all-rounder.

Barring Yusuf, star players Kuldeep Yadav, Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Umesh Yadav will also be in the radar during the auction, and it remains to be seen which player they pick through Right to Match Cards.

Pathan boasts of quite a few records in IPL, and among them, Yusuf’s favourite is the sensational 37 balls century he scored against the Mumbai Indians while playing for the Rajasthan Royals way back in 2009.

“It’s a different feeling altogether when you hit a century. And when you single-handedly take your team to a win, then the feeling is beyond words. “The century against Mumbai Indians will always be close to my heart,” Pathan said.

He further added that age is just a number for him and the hunger for runs has just increased with time.

“Age is just a number for me. I am playing the way I have been. I will not disappoint my fans. If given chance, I will entertain everyone the way I started my career,” Pathan said.

He also spoke about his 5-month doping suspension which ended on 14^th January. Pathan admitted to consuming the banned medicine but said that a medication containing Terbutaline was given to him mistakenly instead of the medicine prescribed to him which didn’t contain any substance which was prohibited.

“It’s a big mistake. I don’t have any explanation. I took it by mistake. I just wish to thank the BCCI for allowing me to plead my case in a fair and reasonable manner. I am proud that I have played in national colours. I don’t want to do anything that can spoil my career. I will be more careful now,” Pathan concluded.

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