Right from his international debut during India’s 2007 T20 World Cup final triumph against Pakistan, Yusuf Pathan has proven to be a “big match player”.
On Tuesday, one half of Baroda’s famous Pathan brothers, the other being charismatic former pacer Irfan, emerged as a big match player on the more complex political turf.
The Trinamool Congress candidate is leading seasoned Congressman and five-time MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury by over 75,000 votes in what is being seen as a shocker from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. He could well turn out to be a giant-slayer going by the current trend.
“Uparwale ka rahem, karam bolein (Call this God’s mercy, blessings), I always feel that I am for big matches, moments,” Yusuf had said after accepting TMC’s offer to switch to politics.
“I just have to bat for them. I don’t want to become a politician. I want to keep my image of a sportsperson intact. But after winning, I will work for my constituency and will make sure that I spend at least eight days in a month there,” he had promised.
The 41-year-old is a first-timer when it comes to politics, his life so far has been defined by cricket where he earned the reputation of being a powerful and clean striker of the ball.
Yusuf’s switch to politics was, therefore, a surprise call, or in hindsight, a masterstroke by chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.
The duo had celebrated together at the Eden Gardens with team owner Shah Rukh Khanwhen Yusuf’s IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders triumphed in 2012 and 2014.
In a constituency which has over 66 per cent Muslim population, Mamata chose to pit Yusuf against the heavyweight Adhir Chowdhury.
Just a week before TMC released the list of its candidates, Mamata approached Yusuf and he was in two minds before finally agreeing, a fight former India captain Sourav Ganguly described as akin to facing Australian pacer Brett Lee.
Besides Chowdhury, Yusuf had to take on BJP’s Nirmal Chandra Saha, a known doctor from the region and also deal with the “outsider” barbs from the opposition.
But the former all-rounder took it upon himself and often repeated TMC's mantra of "Khela Hobe" (I'm up for a fight).
That he always had a stomach for a fight was evident from his cricket career because compared to his younger brother, Yusuf was a late bloomer but when he did make his place in the side, he became an impact player much before the term became a regular in cricketing lexicon.
Born on November 17, 1982, Yusuf’s journey to cricketing stardom is a story of perseverance and dedication, deeply rooted in his formative years in Vadodara.
Growing up in the bustling neighbourhood around the city’s famous Jama Masjid, Yusuf and his younger brother Irfan were exposed to the challenges and struggles of life from an early age.
A groin niggle to Virender Sehwag gave the burly Baroda-man a surprise debut against Pakistan on September 24, 2007.
His contribution was minimal in India’s only T20 World Cup success, but his aggressive intent and the knack of getting breakthroughs with his wily off-spinners quickly made him an India regular in the limited overs format.
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