Gautam Gambhir's career ended because of me, states Mohammad Irfan
Pakistan's seven-foot pacer Mohammad Irfan has stated that he ended the ODI career of Gautam Gambhir in the 2012 bilateral series between the two teams. He further stated that the Indian batsmen failed to pick him because of his height, and also narrated an interesting story involving Virat Kohli.
Standing tall at 7ft 1 inch, Mohammad Irfan was an instant sensation as soon as he broke into the international arena. The tall and lanky left-armer tormented batsmen with his pace, height, and angle and soon built a reputation for himself as one of the most fiery bowlers in world cricket. Pakistan unleashed Irfan against India in the bilateral series in 2012 and the 37-year-old feels that in that series, he ended the ODI career of Gautam Gambhir, who got out to the left-armer multiple times in the series.
“I think his career ended because of me. He didn't return to the team after that. Gautam Gambhir was afraid of me," Irfan told Samaa TV.
The pacer further revealed how the Indian batters were uncomfortable against him due to his height and pace and how they failed to pick him. He also then added that Gambhir didn't like to face him during the match or even when both teams were practising at the nets and recalled the time when he dismissed the southpaw.
"When I played against India, they were not comfortable batting against me. Some of them told me in the 2012 series in India that they couldn't sight my ball properly because of my height and also didn't read my pace.
"He (Gambhir) didn't like to face me in match or when both teams had nets, I always felt he avoided eye to eye contact with me. I remember I got out him four times in the 2012 limited over series and he was unnerved against me," Irfan said.
The pacer, who famously bowled an absurd 23 dot balls in a single spell in T20s in the CPL last year, also narrated an interesting story involving Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh. Irfan said that Kohli was visibly struggling against him after he upped his face, almost being caught by surprise. He then revealed that Yuvraj advised Kohli not to pull the ball and just cut it instead but the latter went for the pull shot and eventually got out to Irfan.
"He (Kohli) told me he thought I would be around 130-135 kph but I had increased my pace and I was bowling around 145 kph and he had problems picking me up. Once when he was batting he tried to pull a good length ball and missed.
"Yuvraj (Singh), who was at the other end told him in Punjabi. Don't try to pull him, rather try to cut him. Off my third ball, he went for a pull and was caught behind. Yuvi Paji told him... now go back," Irfan recalled.
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