Pakistan pacer Muhammad Irfan claims he ended Gautam Gambhir's ODI career
Pakistan pacer Muhamad Irfan has recollected how former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir struggled while facing him in the 2012 bilateral series and how he finished the left handed batsmans ODI career.
Irfan who stands 7 ft 1 inch tall, dismissed Gautam Gambhir four times during the limited overs series and Gambhir featured in only one more white ball cricket for the men in blue before he was dropped.
"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.
The Pakistani pacer claimed that it was that series that ended Gautam Gambhir’s Career.
"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.
Gautam Gambhir featured in his last T20 match against Pakistan at Ahmedabad in that series. Gambhir also played in just one more ODI against England after playing against Pakistan in 2012-2013 and was never selected for limited overs cricket by India.
To a question, the Pakistan pacer said he wouldn’t say anyone was scared of him but when he went out, people commended him for concluding Gambhir’s ODI career.
Irfan recollected an interview, where Virat Kohli had told, while batting against Irfan, he could not 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.
