Virender Sehwag is my inspiration: Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan tells mid day that Sehwag's the reason for his batting bravado

Two scintillating knocks in South Africa against a versatile pace attack have enhanced Yusuf Pathan's reputation as a destroyer.

His 70-ball 105 against South Africa at Centurion on Sunday chipped away at the hosts' ODI series-winning joy.
When Pathan landed in Mumbai late last evening, he was reluctant to talk about himself or the Centurion innings, but spoke to MiD DAY about who he gets his inspiration from.


Virender Sehwag. PIC/GETTY IMAGES

"The obvious answer to that is Sachin Tendulkar, but the daredevil approach has come from Virender Sehwag," said Pathan.

Sehwag was not part of the ODI team in South Africa due to an injured shoulder. Reportedly, the dasher from Delhi visited Germany to get his shoulder treated. "I was always inspired by the way Viru kept backing his own game despite people talking about the so-called shortcomings in his batting," added Pathan.

The Vadodara man was quick to remember his mentoru00a0-- late Bashir Shaikh in his hour of glory. "He would have been very happy to see me playing in the World Cup," he said.

Sandhu's backing
Very few people know that 1983 World Cupper Balwinder Singh Sandhu has also played a pivotal role in Pathan's development when the former swing bowler was coach of Baroda.


Yusuf Pathan is mobbed at Mumbai airport after arriving from
South Africa last evening. PIC/RAJU SHELAR

"Initially, people in Baroda used to ridicule him. I watched him and sensed there was some special spark in his batting which reminded me of Sandeep Patil," said Sandhu, who is pleased that Pathan has given India an amazing option at No 7.

"Trust me, along with Yuvraj, Yusuf is one batsman who can win matches from hopeless situations a la Kapil Dev's 175 in 1983," added Sandhu.

Indeed, there will be more expectations after Pathan's South Africa show, but he is his usual bindaas self. "I don't think much about all that. The team expects me to win matches and I will try to do that always,"
he concluded.