"I would surely pick Jasprit Bumrah" - Zaheer Khan names his 'Fab Four' fast bowlers
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan recently named four current fast bowlers who deserved to be placed in the 'Fab Four' category for bowlers. He picked India's Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami as his first two choices.
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that both Bumrah and Shami have played a big role in Team India's success in Test cricket over the past few years. Apart from the two Indian stars, he suggested that the likes of Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Josh Hazlewood (Australia) and Pat Cummins (Australia) have also made a strong case for themselves.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Zaheer said:
"India have been performing exceptionally well and have been part of two World Test Championship finals. India have done well consistently in all conditions. So, I would surely pick Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in my Fab Four. Apart from them, it would be Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazlewood. Pat Cummins is also one of the contenders. These are the four or five bowlers who have made an impact in Test cricket consistently."
It is worth mentioning that the 'Fab Four' term was coined by the late New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe in 2014. The list included Virat Kohli (India), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Joe Root (England), and Steve Smith (Australia).
While there isn't such a list for fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan opined that Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins deserve to be in an elite list of pacers.
"The hunger to win is very evident" - Zaheer Khan on Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir
In the aforementioned interview, Zaheer Khan also spoke about Team India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir. The two-time World Cup winner was appointed as the Men in Blue coach after Rahul Dravid's stint ended with the side's 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
Zaheer, who shared the dressing room with Gambhir for many years, stated that the 42-year-old has always been very hungry to win. Suggesting that the southpaw's playing style will reflect in his coaching as well, he said:
"When you talk about Gautam Gambhir, the hunger to win is very evident and he is very passionate about cricket. These were the same qualities that made him a good cricketer and he will look at the game in the same way as a coach too. His playing style and the way he played cricket, you can also see that in his coaching. Yes, you will improve as you spend more time there, but the basic coaching style is very similar to your playing style."
While Gambhir is new to coaching, he has previously served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).