I'll go to that level where nobody can drop me: Irfan

Irfan Pathan may be disappointed at being left out of the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series and the Champions Trophy, but the Baroda pacer has taken up the challenge to lift his performance and force a recall into the national side.

"I never run away from challenges. I shall take up the challenge as I move ahead. I shall go to that level in the coming years where nobody can leave me out," Pathan told mediapersons on Monday.

"What I achieved in 23-24 years of my life, most others have not. I have the confidence that I can do it," said the pacer, who completes 25 in October.

Some of Irfan's comments betrayed a feeling of being wronged.

"I was among the top six wicket takers in the second edition of the IPL (Indian Premier League) with 17 wickets. I also scored 196 runs.... Whenever something goes wrong, I get dropped."

But careful not to ruffle feathers among the powers-that-be, Irfan maintained that giving excuses was never his forte.

"If I talk about myself, I shall talk of lot of positives. But the scenario is I am not in the team. And so, I need to perform better."

Asked whether he has failed to live up to his billing as an all-rounder, Irfan said he always described himself in the past as a bowler who could bat. "But if you give me time and opportunity, I will become an all-rounder."

Irfan also disagreed with a questioner that his bowling had suffered during Greg Chappell's stint as Indian coach, as the Australian made him concentrate too much on his batting.

"I don't know what happened then. But if my bowling had been affected because I concentrated on my batting, then the same would have happened at the junior level when I continuously batted at number three or four."

To a query about not being able to bowl with the same speed as he did when he broke into the Indian team, Irfan said such questions arose only when one's performance was down.

"I was never a regular 140-plus bowler. I was a 130-plus one. Speed is important. But what is most important is performance. If you take wickets, everything is ok. If not, then these questions are asked."

Irfan described Adam Gilchrist and Sachin Tendulkar as the toughest batsmen to bowl at. "Gilchrist is very tough. And Sachin seems to have answers, however you bowl to him."

Irfan said he was open to being offered bowling tips by former Pakistan tearaway Wasim Akram, though timing was a problem because of the packed international calendar.