“I have two left feet but I have been told that the show is for non-dancers,” says Irfan Khan as one asks him about his wild card entry in Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa. He has a precedent to fall back upon. English fast bowler Darren Gough won the original BBC version of the show Strictly Come Dancing . “I hope I will be able to match him. Fast bowlers have a natural rhythm but I have no experience of holding the stage. I have only danced in groups during weddings.”
Pathan is known for his inclination towards music. “But I like slow melodies which don’t require foot movement,” he quips and breaks into “Main Tenu Samjhanvan Ki”. His sur is almost in place. Perhaps, a music reality show would have been a better choice? “Some day, may be I will give it a try. Whatever I will earn from the show will go to CAP (Cricket Academy of Pathans), which helps underprivileged kids fulfil their cricket dreams.”
Eager to make a comeback, Irfan says there is lot of cricket left in me. “The hunger is there. World’s best fast bowler Dale Steyn is 32. I am 30.” There have been doubts about his fitness, pace and the ability to bring the ball in. “People will always say something. I have to prove them wrong with my hard work. And I am in the process of making a comeback. If you remember when I made a comeback in 2012, I troubled Sri Lankan batsmen with my incoming ball. Otherwise, it was not easy to get Dilshan and Chandimal LBW, who were in prime form then,” says Irfan reminding that he got five wickets in the last match of the series.
Irfan says that he has lost two years of his career because of injury. “But I take it as part of the game.” With the current team loaded with fast bowlers, Irfan understands that the task won’t be easy. “My job is to give my best and I want to stake a claim for a spot in all forms of the game. The Ranji season will start in October.”
Talking about pace, Irfan says, “With my kind of swing, 130-135 km/hr is enough to disturb the batsman and I am working towards it.”
Some might take his participation in a TV show as an act of non seriousness. “Yes, there are all kinds of opinions but you tell me when the season will start in October what’s the harm in participation?”