Zaheer Khan

Profile

When he first arrived on the scene in 2000, Zaheer Khan - with his lively pace and ability to dig in toe-crushing yorkers - was a phenomenon like none that India had seen before. Now, a decade on, he continues to live up to that promise, becoming one of the best bowlers of his generation.

At 21, the left-armer made a big move when he sacrificed a career in engineering to pursue one on the cricketing field. Zaheer started playing for Baroda in 1999 and only a year into domestic cricket, he was called up to the Indian side. He made an impressive start against Kenya in the 'ICC Knockout Trophy', picking up 3 wickets on debut and was brilliant throughout the tournament, playing a major role in India's road to the final. He was immediately inducted into the Test side and thereafter became a regular fixture in the Indian squad. A brilliant 2002 season, capped by 89 wickets, announced his arrival on the international stage. Though in 2003-04, a hamstring injury which was later found out to be a nerve-twitch, hampered his progress. The selectors continued to rest their faith in him but form and fitness combined with the emergence of competition like Sreesanth and RP Singh, meant that he wasn't assured of a place in the side anymore.

Zaheer’s tumultuous tale reached its climax in 2006 when he was dropped after the Pakistan series and was demoted to a C-Grade contract by the BCCI. He then came up with a befitting reply, prizing 78 wickets for Worcestershire, forcing his way back into the Indian team. A leaner, fitter ‘Zak’ emerged with a shortened run up and a moulded bowling action to lead India's attack with renewed vigor. His fight-back began in South Africa and was followed up by a historic Test series triumph in England where he ended up as the highest wicket-taker.

He spearheaded the bowling attack for India in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and was the team’s most successful fast bowler. He contributed significantly towards the team’s magnificent World Cup win with his wicket-taking stints.

With his perfect seam action and his ability to swing the ball both ways, Zaheer is sort of a destructive bowler who any team would yearn to call their own. That, coupled with his lethal reverse swing with the old ball explains why the Baroda lad has become one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. Zaheer Khan with his current achievements is already an inspiration to budding Indian quickies. But the speedster's career is far from over. He dreams of going one step further to emulate the legendary Wasim Akram and for the lionhearted optimist that he is, even this herculean task is none too tall for him to conquer.

Fast Facts

• Zaheer Khan is India's most successful fast bowler after Kapil Dev in Tests.
• He became the third Indian bowler to have taken more than 150 Test wickets outside India.
• He was India's highest wicket taker in the 2003 WC.
• In county cricket, Zaheer became the first Worcestershire player to take 10 wickets in a match on debut for over 100 years.
• He was the highest wicket-taker in the year 2007 picking up an astonishing 81 wickets in Tests and ODIs.
• Against Australia in 2008, Zaheer became the third Indian after Rusi Surti and Kapil Dev to score a half century and take five wickets in an innings in the same match.
• He was one of the Five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2008.

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Career

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