Would you put Irfan Pathans revival down to the mental aspects of the game?
Definitely. Both of us have done a lot. Talking a lot. I really appreciate Irfan in this regard. His interaction with me is fantastic. Every time he keeps coming and talking to me about what he did and what he can do. Sometimes I go and speak to him. I speak to all the bowlers, including the spinners. When they’re bowling in the nets, if I see something about length, line or flight, I go and speak to them, find out their reasons for trying something, go into the plans they have. I try to get deep into their mindset, and if need be, improve them or correct them on the tactical part or appreciate their thinking, as the case may be. Irfan is one who has interacted with me a lot over the last month and a half. He has understood how it is to be left out of the team, so he wants to work that much harder to ensure that he performs and stays in the team. We have worked on the line, length, and what he needs to be doing when he is bowling a slower ball – where he needs to aim, what line to keep
