‘Dominating attacks comes naturally’

Asked to bat on a green top and with the ball whizzing around throughout Day One,the left-handed opener countered fire with fire,displaying his full array of attacking strokes while sending Virat Kohli’s side on a leather hunt during his 138-run knock in the Group B encounter of the Ranji Trophy.

Just off the commotion-filled streets of old Delhi,the Roshanara Cricket Club lies amidst serene greenery. The 22-year old batsman from Saurashtra brought the 134-year-old ground to life with 26 boundaries,which included two sixes,to bring up his second century in as many matches.

Playing in only his second season at the domestic level,Pathak has finally made heads turn in his direction with two half-centuries and two centuries in four matches,emerging from the shadows of players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja. With a century against Mumbai in the 2008-09 season and scores of 31,50,90,118 and 138 in five innings so far,Pathak credits his success to his uncomplicated batting approach.

“This is how I’ve always been batting. Whether it is the four-day game or a T20,I will look to smash the ball around,” Pathak told Sportline at the end of the day’s play.

Coached by Mahendra Singh Chauhan and Debu Mishra at the Nawanagar Cricket Association in Jamnagar,Gujarat,Pathak says he is a man without plans. “I do not like spending time pointlessly in the middle. If the ball is there to be hit,I will go for it. I do not like planning,” he said.

“There was genuine swing right through the day,but everytime I thought I was getting stuck in a rut,I stepped out and stepped on the gas,” Pathak said,adding,“If we play slowly,one ball is sure to get through the defences. Instead,I prefer to call the shots when I’m in the middle. Dominating bowling attacks comes naturally to me.”

Although his fellow team mates constantly compare his explosive nature up the order to that of India opener Virender Sehwag,Pathak hopes to play his cricket like Brian Lara,his role model. “I have been a fan of Lara right from the beginning. He had a simple approach to the game,” he said.

While bowling attacks around the country will soon be strategising for his wicket early in the innings,Pathak feels his “Plan B will be to clear the ropes.”