The seven-feet one-inch tall Pakistan pacer had got Gautam Gambhir as many as four times during the course of the limited-overs series in 2012.
Mirpur: Pakistan bowler Mohammad Irfan celebrates fall of Tamim Iqbal's wicket during the eighth match of AsiaCup 2016 between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur of Bangladesh on March 2, 2016. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan in a recent interview has claimed that it was in fact he himself who was responsible for ending former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir’s white-ball career in 2012.
“Gautam Gambhir was afraid of me. I think his career ended because of me,” Irfan told Pakistan’s Samaa TV in an interview.
“He didn’t return to the team after that,” he added.
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The seven-feet one-inch tall Pakistan pacer had got Gautam Gambhir as many as four times during the course of that limited-overs series. In the three-match ODI series, Gambhir became the victim of Irfan twice. Irfan also got his wicket in what turned to be Gambhir’s last T20I in 2012.
Post that series, the former left-handed Indian opener only played one more ODI series against England and was later dropped.
“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 him out four times in the 2012 limited over series and he was unnerved against me,” Irfan said.
The Pakistani speedster further stated that many Indian batsmen had difficulty facing him during the 2012 series scheduled in India.
“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,” Irfan said.
He also added that even Virat Kohli was having difficulty in judging his pace and sighting his release.
“He (Kohli) told me he thought I would be around 130-135 kmph but I had increased my pace and I was bowling around 145 kmph and he had problems picking me up,” Irfan said.
The out of favour pacer last donned his Pakistan jersey in 2016 against England.
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