A yorker, a six, a dressing down to remember

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Related Links Players/Officials: Irfan Pathan | Yusuf Pathan Teams: India

First fight with Yusuf Pathan
When I was 10 years old. It was about a bicycle. About who owned it and stuff...

First six
It was in an Under-14 tournament in Baroda. I felt really happy… to know that you can hit it that hard. You are really fascinated seeing other people do it on TV, and then doing it yourself is great.

First yorker
People remember my yorker to Adam Gilchrist, but the first time in first-class cricket was against Raja Ali from Central Zone. The ball was reversing and I bowled him with a yorker.

First thing I cooked
An omelette. It's the only thing I cook.

First good cricketing advice
It came from my coach, the late Basheer Sheikh, the best person I have met. I was about 15 then, and would always make excuses when I got out.

In one game I scored 64 and got hit. It was really painful. I got stitches and the next day I lost concentration and got out. In the evening he asked me how I got out - even though he had been at the ground. He wanted me to describe it.

I said, "Sir, I was really hurting…" Before I could say more, he started shouting at me, in front of everybody. "What did I ask you? What's your answer supposed to be?" I thought for a minute and said, "I was caught at gully playing a square-drive." Then he said, "Never give excuses like pain." After the dressing down he took me aside and gently said, "If you are ever serious about doing well in cricket and in life, never give excuses." I always remember that, especially on my bad days.