It's always tough being a medium-pacer on the domestic circuit. When pitches are low and slow, wickets aren't easy to come by. And in case one is trying to make an international comeback in times when there is a big queue of pacers outside the Indian dressing room, self-doubt is quick to creep in.

But Irfan Pathan, signing autograph and flashing his trademark smile while posing with fans at the end of day's play at Karnail Singh Stadium, doesn't come across as someone under undue pressure to perform. After his seven-wicket match haul at home against UP in the opening Ranji game, he finished the opening day of Baroda's second game of the season against Railways with four wickets.

Quite confident that he will once again be in the national team Pathan says, "I have always been a rhythm bowler and think it's the same for others too. I wouldn't say I was not in rhythm when I was dropped from the Indian team, only the performance didn't show."

Even when he is reminded of the phenomenal performance of the main bowlers in the Tests and ODIs, besides the long list of pacers waiting in the wings, Pathan isn't perturbed. "There was a similar situation when I played for India. Then too, there was competition between four-five bowlers," he says.

The left-arm pacer says he was quite happy with the way his Ranji season has started. "I think I'm in one of my finest rhythms ever. You learn a lot bowling on the domestic pitches as they are different everywhere. In Baroda, the pitch was quite helpful. Today there were a few dropped catches too, but I'm pleased with the effort, especially when I broke the crucial partnership (between Mahesh Rawat and Karan Sharma)," he adds.

... contd.