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The night before the opening match against England in the ongoing Champions Trophy, India’s strike bowler Irfan Pathan looked tense.

The left-arm pacer had been told by the team management that he would be in the playing eleven and he was feeling the pressure of expectations. He knew he had to deliver.

But he smiled when asked about ‘pressure’: “Don’t worry, I’m ready for the show,” Pathan told TOI. He bowled with a lot of heart and rhythm the next day, rattling the England top order and getting two crucial wickets.

“It was a big occasion and we knew that we had to start the match with a bang. When I was given the new ball, I knew I could do the job,” Pathan said.

Pathan said that he was always confident of proving his worth as a bowler in the team again. “I wasn’t under any pressure.

There was talk outside that I’m short on confidence but it wasn’t true. My self-belief never suffered and I’m thankful to the team management for giving me the right support,” he said.

The Baroda speedster seemed to have rediscovered pace and swing with the white ball during Sunday’s match and that was bad news for England.

“Andrew Flintoff’s wicket was a special one. We knew he was the key man for England and getting him early would be a bonus. So I gave it everything and tried to pitch the ball in the right area. It worked,” Pathan said referring to Flintoff’s dismissal.

The pacer then admitted: “I was probably trying too hard earlier… just before the Champions Trophy, I decided that I had to keep things simple and leave the past behind. I was confident of making a difference.”

Pathan also attributed his success to sports psychologist Rudi Webster and said: “Rudi has been a great help for us. I know what my body is all about.

Rudi told me not to complicate things and said that all I need is to put all my elements together.” Even Webster was quite happy with Pathan’s progress.

“At this young age, he has achieved a lot but he needed to be told and assured about his talent. I am glad that he was effective in the very first match,” Webster told TOI.

Asked if his batting was putting pressure on his bowling, Pathan said: “Batting has never put pressure on my bowling. While batting, I was under no pressure against English bowlers.

Harmison was quick but I was not bothered about who was actually bowling. In the end, I should have scored more runs.”

When asked if he would continue to bat at No.3, Pathan said: “I cannot tell you what we are going to do in the next match. In fact, I can only talk about myself.

For the next couple of days, I am going to spend some quality time with my family. I would look forward to a happy and prosperous Diwali for everyone,” Pathan said, signing off.

Pathan, meanwhile,suffered a minor cut in his right hand on Friday in Baroda but a doctor said he would be fine for India’s next match on October 26.