It has been an exhilarating ride for Irfan Pathan on the fast lane of international cricket. But one year after his debut, the 21-year-old pace sensation is hungry for more success.
"It has been a good year, I am quite happy with my performance. But I want to look what is in front, look forward, want to keep doing the good work I have done so far.
I want to concentrate on my cricket, I don't want to sleep on my success," Pathan said.
Pathan's maiden appearance was in the historic Adelaide Test last December when India recorded its first win in Australia in 20 years.
Since then, Pathan has been the team's bowling spearhead, his lethal left-arm swing bowling proving to be a key weapon for Sourav Ganguly and Co.
The amazing aspect of Pathan has been that when he came on the international scene he was a well-developed fast bowler.
Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram, who has been role model and mentor, has said that Pathan was a more mature bowler than he was at his age.
Combined with his batting potential, many say he is the first allrounder India has produced after Kapil Dev.
But the Baroda youngster doesn't want to be carried away by comparisons with former greats.
"Feels good that I am being considered on par with such great players. But it has just been one year for me, it is going to take many more years to achieve what they have achieved," Pathan said.
"It is going to take years of hard work and concentration. There are lot of talented people but very few achieve success. It is a long way to go for me."
Recalling his first Test, Pathan said he was not intimidated by the huge frame of Matthew Hayden, who had broken the world record for highest individual score in Test cricket few weeks ago, standing at the crease.
"Dada told me that I am going to play three days before the match. When I was to bowl the first ball, I was nervous, but after that my confidence started going up with each ball.
"We have a game plan for every batsmen, and it was no different for the Australians."
Pathan's success deserves all the more credit because of his style of bowling. While the likes of Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan have reinforced the argument that a bowler needs to hit the deck hard to succeed on Indian pitches, Pathan has shown that skillful use of seam could also bear fruits on the dusty tracks of the subcontinent.
The young left-arm pacer is not perturbed by the comparison evoked.
"Zaheer is close to taking 100 wickets, Srinath and Akram they have all done well, no matter what conditions. My strength is swing, the pace will improve," he said.
