Century against Mumbai Indians special: Yusuf

Mumbai:

All-rounder Yusuf Pathan, who scored the fastest century in the Indian Premier League against Mumbai Indians, on Saturday termed the knock as special and said he would like to play many more such innings in the future.

"The knock was special as it was my first hundred. I want to play many more such knocks so that when I retire I have a bagful of DVDs containing such innings," Pathan told reporters here on Sunday.

"I have been playing well. I have done well in domestic cricket. I would like this form to continue and win as many matches as possible for my team," he added.

Yusuf, who scored a belligerent 100 of mere 37 balls for Rajasthan Royals in a losing cause yesterday, said he would like to continue in the same aggressive manner that has seen him emerge as a destructive batman.

"I would like to continue the way I have been playing as I have been successful playing such a way. Obviously there will be scope for improvement but I would like to play my cricket in the same way," he said.

The flamboyant middle-order batsman said playing such a knock against a good bowling attack gave him extra confidence.

"The wicket was very good for batting and the ball was coming onto the bat. I had the confidence that if I stay at the wicket for a while the team will get close to achieving the target. Playing such a knock against a good bowling attack gave me extra-confidence," he said.

Pathan said he didn't expect himself to get out but still believed his team was capable of achieving the target.

"I was playing well, never thought I would get out and in such a freak manner. But I still felt that we had a chance to win the game. Unfortunately, Zaheer and Malinga bowled the 19th and 20th overs well," he said.

The Baroda all-rounder said he was happy to be praised by Rajasthan Royals' skipper Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar after his innings.

"After I returned, Warne told me that he had not seen such an innings in his 21-year career. Sachin congratulated me and asked me to continue in the same vein," he said.

"It is a big achievement for me to share the dressing room with players like Sachin, Sehwag. I have learnt by watching them," he added.

Asked how he celebrated his whirlwind knock, the 27-year-old said, "It was an innings one plays rarely in life. I thanked god for the innings and then offered namaz. I talked to my family members. Later I had a small celebration with some of my team members, who didn't have prior commitments."

On why he could not translate his domestic and IPL success in international cricket, Yusuf said, "It's not that I haven't been successful in international cricket. I had some success in international cricket. Even IPL is an international event as many international stars are playing in it."

Pathan said it was wrong to assume his team was centred around him.

"It takes contributions from at least three to four persons to win the match for your team. An individual by himself cannot win a match," he said.

The all-rounder said there was nothing wrong with the team and it would make a strong comeback.

"There is no fault with the team. Its just that we couldn't click at the right time. The way we came back in the match is a good thing for the team," he said.

Pathan said for him shots like the reverse sweep, switch-hit and the "Dilscoop" was not an option.

"The reverse sweeps, scoops and the switch-hit are not for me. Practising such shots complicate things. I would like to concentrate on my strengths and keep it simple which works for me," he said.