Yusuf makes me nervous when watching, competitive when bowling: Irfan

Yusuf makes me nervous when watching, competitive when bowling: Irfan

 PORT ELIZABETH: Yusuf Pathan is the toast of DLF Indian Premier League. He continues to make headlines for his showing for the second successive season.No wonder his team regards him as their most valuable player. But when he is batting, his own family too is on tenterhooks just as fans are drawn to the edge of their seats .


Yusuf's key rival and younger brother Irfan Pathan likes to watch his brother in action. They are obviously very close toone other as can be seen in the way Irfan was excited about watching his brother dismantle Delhi Daredevils at Centurion."Did you watch his knock?" he asked a few of us before settling down for dinner in Durban.


But the left-handed all-rounder cannot handle Yusuf's edge of the seat stuff. "I get very nervous while I am watching him bat. I just don't want him to get out," Irfan told iplt20.com. Like everyone else, Irfan completely agrees when the Rajasthan Royals man is called a ‘paisa vasool’ cricketer.


It has so happened that in the last two seasons, whenever Yusuf has had a starring role, Rajasthan Royals have won the game. Either he has won the game with the bat or the ball or both. In this tournament thus far, Yusuf's role in the tied encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders is etched in everyone's mind. It is believed that Yusuf''s knock in the Super Over was one of the best pieces of power-hitting in cricket.


Irfan agrees and rates it as one of his best efforts ever. "No one will ever forget that Super Over. The way he batted that day was simply superb. The whole scenario around the over was tremendous, so Yusuf's effort was amazing," he says.


The Pathan brothers' parents are in South Africa and will spend time watching their sons play. So who do they support if Irfan and Yusuf play against one other? "That you must ask them." says Irfan with a smile. For Irfan though, it will be crucial as he prepares to face Yusuf in the second round clash later this week.


Having confessed that he gets nervous watching his brother, what happens to Irfan when Yusuf is batting opposite him? "Then it’s a different matter," he smiles.


For Yusuf, it was just another nonchalant day at work, as he revived a comatose Rajasthan Royals in Port Elizabeth. As soon as the last ball was bowled, he was off for a team-building exercise at the Shamwari game reserve en route Durban for their next encounter. This was just another day in the life of Yusuf Pathan, who continues to be the most sought after cricketer of IPL.