CENTURION, April 29: The press box at the Centurion is a good 40 yards from the boundary and at least 15 rows behind the line. Yet Yusuf Pathan’s damaging a reporter’s laptop was always on the cards. Such was the ferocity of his hitting that every spectator who had purchased a grass bank ticket was left ruing their decision. There was literally no place to hide.

For a player whose count of sixes is as high as the crime rate in Johannesburg, there is a science to his hitting. He does not clear his front foot to make room as most big hitters do. Usually his heaves are born out of a clean bat swing and Yusuf picks the right length to hit. His long arms are an advantage.

Shane Warne has seen many big hitters in his illustrious career but not many compare with Yusuf. "I have bowled to a few but I can only see Sanath Jayasuriya coming close when it comes to hitting sixes consistently."

Virender Sehwag noted the knock by Yusuf simply took the match away from them. "When someone hits the ball like that you don’t stand much of a chance. The best thing about him is the way he backs himself even on bigger grounds. I have seen him clear them with ease."

Yusuf who has won two games for the Royals off his own bat is not amused by his own show. "When there is ball to be hit I don’t hold myself back. This is the way I have always played and I am doing what comes best to me," said Yusuf. Warne who had strategically held back Yusuf against Delhi said the big hitting prowess of his star batsman was the reason behind the decision.

"He uses the long handle much in the same manner like Adam Gilchrist. Holding the handle loose and at the top he generates enormous power. He is also a strong lad. Of the three-four overs of spin they had to bowl I was confident he would be useful and all I can say is we are happy it came off."

The IPL has seen some lusty hitting but none to compare with the striking of Yusuf who is proving to be the biggest entertainer of them all this year.