Yusuf Pathan, who knocked a fabulous innings last night against Royal Challengers Bangalore refused to agree with Sunil Gavaskar’s assessment of RCB bowling which Gavaskar termed as ‘popatwadi attack’.
“Any team playing, or for that matter any batting lineup, and especially any bowling lineup cannot be called Popatwadi Attack when teams are participating in big tournaments as IPL,” Pathan told reporters .
“It is his viewpoint and his perception. Whatever he said, it is according to his understanding. But look at Varun Aaron and Shane Watson, they both have represented their country for their achievements,” he said.
Pathan believes that once RCB’s bowling clicks it will become a different team.”Unfortunately for RCB, compared to their batting strengths, their bowling has not been clicking. It is a matter of two to three games, and if their bowling clicks the team will look altogether a different side,” said Pathan.
Pathan smashed 60 runs off 29 balls and made 96 runs partnership for the fifth wicket with Andre Russel. Both played a crucial role to clinching the victory. “In the initial period of our partnership, Russel took the role of going after the bowling, and I steadied the innings, which helped us build a good partnership, and from there on the target began to look small,” he said.
On Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy, Pathan said he is a very good captain, and most importantly he trusts and backs his players in the good or bad situation. “Trusting and backing players in any situation boosts the morale of the players,” Pathan added.