'Pakistan cricketers do love to take credit for many things and now out-of-favour left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan has claimed that it was because of him that Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir's career ended.
'Pakistan cricketers do love to take credit for many things and now out-of-favour left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan has claimed that it was because of him that Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir's career ended.
According to Irfan, Gambhir had distinct discomfort while facing him during the 2012 bilateral series.
Standing tall at 7ft 1 inch, Irfan dismissed Gambhir four times during that limited-overs series (T20s and ODIs). The southpaw played only one more white-ball series for India before being dropped.
Irfan claimed that it was this particular series that ended Gambhir's career.
"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 told the 'Samaa' channel.
"He (Gambhir) didn't like to face me in the 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.
He added that he wouldn't say anyone was "scared of him" but when he went out, people congratulated him for ending Gambhir's white-ball career.
He even recalled that Virat Kohli had told him that he didn't read his pace properly.
"He 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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 "Muhammad Irfan and Gautam Gambhir")
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