Mumbai, Mar 27: Player-of-the-Match of the T20 Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy final, Irfan Pathan performed with the bat and the ball to help helped Baroda beat Punjab by seven runs at the Brabourne Stadium in a nail-biting finish.

In his interaction with the media after the match, Irfan spoke about his form and the significance of playing domestic tournaments.

On the final against Punjab

The final game of domestic cricket is not going to happen every year. I have been playing domestic cricket for the last 13 years and this is my third final. The percentage [of playing a final] is pretty low, so you need to make the most of it. After winning, talking [about] things is very easy. It was a wonderful game and I kept telling the boys to just enjoy it and play [well]. It is a matter of one game [in which] anything could have [happened]. Punjab could have won it as well in the last over. It was such a good game.

On his performance

On the personal front, I am really happy. I wanted to come here and make sure that I hit my areas rather than think about the results […] I wanted to make sure that I only concentrated on the process and that is what tried to do. I had a good session in the morning; I had a good long session yesterday. I wanted to make sure whatever I needed to get better in terms of international cricket, whatever it requires – be it a flat pitch or a helpful pitch – I need to make sure I am ready. So playing any kind of match is very important. Being a final, obviously it is a top-level game in domestic cricket. I’m really happy with my performance, the way I batted as well, because I haven’t batted for the last one month in a match [...] In Australia I got the chance to bat but in Bangladesh I couldn’t bat so obviously at the start when I went in I was a bit hesitant [because I] wasn’t fluent. Still it wasn’t too bad. The nervousness was there but eventually the shots came out and I could actually help the team post a total of 149 [runs]. God has been really kind [and so I’m] bowling as well I am. I am really happy to have bowled the length I needed to, especially in the death overs. The yorker came out really well. The ball was definitely doing a little bit in the end so that [also] helped. I am pretty confident after this game. I needed this from a personal point of view as well. I am feeling good; I’m back to the way I was feeling [earlier].

On whether the ball was stopping a bit before coming on to the bat

The first five overs weren’t too good; the Punjab really bowled well up-front. If you take wickets early on, it is always difficult for the team, so it was difficult for us as well. The ball was moving in the morning a bit because of the moisture [in the wicket]. [It] always does at CCI, so this actually put us on the back-foot. I won’t say that the pitch was the flattest CCI pitch that I have played on but it was a decent pitch. If we would have had a good start, we could have got more runs. But we didn’t have a good start in terms of batting.

On opting to bat first

The decision to bat first was taken by the captain, the senior members of the team and the coach because it was the final game. The final has always been a difficult game. If you have to bat first, you might score more than 10-15 runs. At that level, some of the youngsters are not that experienced, especially in our team lower down the order. If I get out and Yusuf [Pathan] gets out, [there is no one lower down the order] so we needed to make sure we bat first and put a total on the board. It is always better to put a total on the board, especially in big games like this.

On Murtuza Vohara’s last over

He has been wonderful for Baroda. Sadly, he had injuries during the Ranji Trophy otherwise I would have loved to see his progress. Especially today he bowled an amazing last over. It was outstanding. Throughout the whole Twenty20 season he has been bowling fantastically well [...] which is a very big positive for our team. We have bowlers like Munaf Patel and Yusuf; then there is Bharghav [Bhatt] and the other guys. It is a good bowling line-up but he is one of the guys who hasn’t played for the country. But the way he bowls at this level, it is always difficult for the opposition. I am happy with the way he is bowling.

On winning titles for Baroda

We won the Ranji Trophy in my first season, 2001, and now this.

On the importance of this game ahead of the one-off T20I on South Africa

From a personal point of view, it is important to keep playing as many matches as I can. I have been maintaining that. I don’t mind missing practices but I want to make sure I don’t miss any matches. Cricket is the only game where you practice in one place and when you play a match in another, it is all together different. [...] For a bowler like me who keeps getting better with the rhythm, it is important to keep bowling. For that matter, it is true of any bowler. That is what I wanted to do this season – play wherever I could and that’s why I came here to play the match.

On whether the misfields made him lose his cool

(Laughs) [For] just for two seconds. I have been pretty good these days in terms of controlling my emotions. We won the game today but in a few hours it is going to be back to normal. Tomorrow is going to be a new day. I am fine.

On Yusuf dropping a catch off his bowling

It happens. It was a difficult chance but he is a great fielder. [...] I didn’t react at all because you can’t control that. You need to make sure you stay in the present. Whatever is gone is gone.

On his fitness

With God’s grace, everything is good. Today also I must have bowled 30-40 balls before the match started. God has been kind to me. One can’t ask for more. As greedy people we always want more and more and better and better in terms of health, performances and everything else. I have learnt to be satisfied with whatever God has been giving me and I am really happy.

On the upcoming IPL season

First, I am looking forward to playing against South Africa. It is like a one-match series. You want to make sure that you do well because it is one game and you are out of it. I am going to treat it as a series and make sure that I keep getting better as a cricketer. I’m looking forward to playing for Delhi [Daredevils] this year because last year wasn’t too good. This time the team has changed so hopefully things will be good. I want to make sure I play my part really well for DD.