After a hectic workout at the National Cricket Academy, Irfan Pathan was aware that all eyes were on him as he made his way to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where his Corporate trophy team Air India (Red) were practising. In an interview with The Indian Express, Pathan talks about his technique, his transition from a pure bowler to a batting all-rounder, and about the mistake of consulting too many experts. Excerpts:

What’s the latest on Irfan Pathan’s comeback?

• I was supposed to play Corporate trophy, but I just did a session with the trainers in NCA, and they wanted me to first strengthen my legs before I start playing again. Paul Close and Paul Chapman are here and they’ll work with me for one or two weeks. I might miss the first two matches. So that’s the latest but yes, but I’m pretty relaxed, feeling pretty fresh.

There’s been a lot of debate about your technique, how you hold the ball and why it doesn’t swing.

• It’s all got to do with performance. If someone starts the way I did and goes down in comparison, people are bound to talk. I might have done well compared to others, but if my performance is not as good as my first two years, people have to say something. Everyone bowls differently — Muralitharan bowls differently. If he hadn’t taken that many wickets, people would’ve been saying he’s not a conventional off-spinner, that he puts his wrist behind his elbow. But now people say he’s doing so well because he’s got a unique technique.

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