There was a time in Indian cricket when it was said that India does not have the ability to produce any real pacers, barring the likes of Kapil Dev. Even as India’s batting as well as fielding improved, this question seemed to haunt them everywhere: Where is that one bowler who we can look up and say: “This guy is a pacer.” And then the millennium turned. Come 2000, a young lad by the name of Zaheer Khan made his debut for India. People were getting an answer for their long-standing question. A new star had just entered the Indian team.
After being on the sidelines for roughly six years, he finally cemented his place in the ODI as well as Tests as India’s frontline pace bowler. According to me, this was mostly because of a turn of good fortune as he lost his place because of the arrival of two new bowlers and got his place because of the departure of two bowlers. After getting this valuable opportunity, he never let go and we saw the emergence of one of the world’s most prolific fast bowlers and the best just after Kapil Dev.
His high came in the 2011 World Cup where he emerged as India’s most successful bowler. The famous ‘knuckle ball’ reaped rewards.
He is right there with all the greats of cricket. If in Indian cricket, the 20th century saw the emergence of Kapil Dev, the 21st was the arrival of Zaheer Khan. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a career spanning 15 years. Hats off to him on a bravura career and I hope that there is another ‘Zak’ for the advancement of Indian cricket.
After being on the sidelines for roughly six years, he finally cemented his place in the ODI as well as Tests as India’s frontline pace bowler. According to me, this was mostly because of a turn of good fortune as he lost his place because of the arrival of two new bowlers and got his place because of the departure of two bowlers. After getting this valuable opportunity, he never let go and we saw the emergence of one of the world’s most prolific fast bowlers and the best just after Kapil Dev.
His high came in the 2011 World Cup where he emerged as India’s most successful bowler. The famous ‘knuckle ball’ reaped rewards.
He is right there with all the greats of cricket. If in Indian cricket, the 20th century saw the emergence of Kapil Dev, the 21st was the arrival of Zaheer Khan. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a career spanning 15 years. Hats off to him on a bravura career and I hope that there is another ‘Zak’ for the advancement of Indian cricket.
