Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan Biography

In a country starved of great fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan came as a breath of fresh air. Though not quite a tearaway, Zaheer was able to hurry batsmen with his pace. However, it was movement, both seam and swing of the conventional kind, that made him stand out. Zaheer's greatest allies are his canny cricketing brain and skills, but fitness has always remained a problem.

Zaheer's career can be separated in two parts; from his debut till 2006, and from 2007 onwards. The drastic difference can be credited to an extremely productive stint with Worcestershire, for whom he took 78 wickets at 29.07 with five five-wicket hauls — which included a 9 for 138 — and two 10-wicket hauls.

Looking leaner and hungrier than ever on comeback, it soon became evident that Zaheer had cut down a bit on pace but had added one vital aspect to his bowling: reverse swing. This second innings proved to be a blessing for India as well; they finally had a pace bowler who could bowl long spells as well as rip through batting line-ups.

An accurate representation of this sea-change could be seen in his performances in the two World Cup finals he played. Against Australia in 2003 his first over went for 15 and he conceded 67 in 7 overs. Against Sri Lanka in 2011, Zaheer bowled three maidens in his first four overs (he took a wicket as well), ending with 2 for 60 in 10 overs.

The undisputed leader of India's bowling attack — then-skipper MS Dhoni once went so far as to call Zaheer India's ‘bowling captain’ — Zaheer's death-bowling skills and ability to move the ball either way has resulted in many a batsman being made to look like novices. Sadly for India, Zaheer's fitness troubles persisted for much of his career; the image of him pulling up with a hamstring strain in the first session of a gruelling English tour is still vivid.

A lack of form and fitness means that Zaheer was overlooked for World Cup 2015, having played his last international match for India in February 2014. It seems unlikely Zaheer will get a third innings in international cricket, which is a sad end to the career of someone who carried India's pace bowling for years.

Shiamak Unwalla

Zaheer Khan Batting & Fielding Averages

Career	M	In	R	NO	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
Test	92	127	1231	24	75	11.95	2381	51.70	0	3	141	28	19	0
ODIs	200	101	792	35	34*	12.00	1078	73.46	0	0	69	24	43	0
T20s	17	4	13	2	9*	6.500	10	130.0	0	0	0	1	2	0
World Cup	23	11	52	2	15*	5.777	70	74.28	0	0	6	0	10	0

Zaheer Khan Bowling Averages

Career	M	B	R	W	Avg	EC	SR	5WI	10WM	BBI	BBM
Test	92	18785	10247	311	32.94	3.272	60.	11	1	7/87	10/149
ODIs	200	10097	8301	282	29.43	4.932	35.80	1	0	5/29	5/42
T20s	17	352	448	17	26.35	7.636	20.70	0	0	4/17	4/17
World Cup	23	1193	890	44	20.22	4.476	27.11	0	--	4/42	5/42

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