Best Bowling Performances of Zaheer Khan
From a 14-year-long career, choosing only a few best bowling performances of Zaheer Khan is certainly not an easy task. The veteran speedster has for many years carried the burden of leading India's pace attack. With 311 Test and 282 ODI scalps, he has been the leader in the Indian pace department in the last decade. The 35-year-old can also etch his name amongst India's finest pace bowlers along the likes of Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath. Though overlooked for the upcoming tour of England, Zak is bound to bounce back stronger. Here's a look at five of his best bowling performances:
5. The Rookie stuns the World Champions
The Australia team in the early 2000's was stuff of legends. World Champions in 1999, 2003 and 2007, their batting line-up boasted of names like Steve and Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan etc. While when you have Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie in your pace attack, many a batsmen would shudder in fear. But a rookie Zaheer Khan stunned the Aussie batsmen with his pace and swing in the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy (then named ICC Knockout Trophy).
A quickfire 80-ball 84 from another rookie in the series, Yuvraj Singh had guided India to 265/9 at Nairobi. In reply, as Australia came in to bat a 22-year-old Zaheer stole the show. On his 22nd birthday (7th October) Zak announced himself to the world in style. He sent Aussie stalwarts like Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh packing. Playing just his 2nd ODI, he ended with figures of 2 for 40, that was instrumental in India securing a 20-run win.
4. Zak rips apart Woeful Windies
In their Group B encounter against West Indies at the 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh stole the headlines. But it was actually Zaheer who tormented the Windies batsmen, who looked set for a win. Ahead of their encounter at Chennai, India had tied a thriller against England and were stunned by South Africa. Thus a loss was to be avoided against the Windies to ensure an easy draw in the quarter-final stage.
Yuvi's 123-ball 113 guided India to 268, but the Indian bowlers started on a dissapointing note. Devon Smith (81) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (39) played the Indian bowlers with ease. The duo had them cruising at 146 for 2 after 27 overs, looking all set for a win. Enter Zaheer Khan. Bowling his second spell of the game, he crushed the Caribbean boys. West Indies lost their last eight wickets for just 34 runs, as Zaheer's 3 for 26 guaranteed India a win and second spot in the group table.
3. Lone Ranger at Hamilton
The tour of New Zealand in 2002-03 was a nightmare for India. Sourav Ganguly's men were whitewashed 2-0 in the Test series and were clueless succumbing 5-2 in the 7-match ODI series. But the lone positive in the Test series was Zaheer Khan's performance. Where Indian bowlers looked lacklustre, Zak scalped 11 wickets in the 2 Tests. Specially his swinging deliveries at Hamilton were awe-inspiring.
After being drubbed by 10 wickets in the 1st Test at Wellington, India looked a dejected lot at Hamilton. The Indian batting attack was listless as they folded for just 99, Shane Bond and Darryl Tuffey scalping 4 apiece. Inspite of such a dismal outing fro the batsmen, Zaheer Khan bowled his heart out and achieved the impossible. Zaheer took 5 for 29, with 4 maidens as India went on to manage a 5 run lead!
New Zealand eventually went on to register a 4-wicket win, but it was only Zaheer who could give the Kiwis a run for their money at their own backyard.
2. Kiwis shot down at Centurion
The 2003 World Cup was bittersweet for Zaheer Khan. Though he was India's highest wickettaker and the tournament’s fourth-most, he lost his nerve in the final as Australia tamed the Men In Blue. But the tournament dished out many positives for Zak. With 18 wickets at the 2003 World Cup, Zaheer announced himself ready to take over India's pace mantle from the retiring Javagal Srinath. His finest perfrmance at the tournament came against New Zealand at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
On a pacer friendly Centurion track, skipper Sourav Ganguly decided to send in the Kiwis to bat. And before Stephen Fleming's men could even settle in, Zaheer had ripped apart their batting line-up. He took 4 for 42, his best figures at the tournament as the Kiwis were shot down for a paltry 146. Unbeaten fifties from Mohammed Kaif (68*) and Rahul Dravid (53*) steered India to a win as Zaheer heroics earned him Man of the Match award.
1. Bullying the Brits
India's tour of England in 2007 was the finest moment of Zaheer Khan's career. Zaheer scalped 18 wickets in the 3 Tests as skipper Rahul Dravid led India to a rare 1-0 series win. But the best of Zak in this series was witnessed at Nottingham. After sending England in to bat, Zaheer rattled the English top-order. Extracting the most out of the swinging conditions at Trent Bridge, he took 4 for 59 in the first innings. Skipper Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell had no answer to the Indian pacer's sublime spell as the hosts succumbed to just 198. After the Indian batsmen punished the English bowlers for 481 runs, Zak took over from where he had left. The left-arm pacer scalped 5 for 75 in the second innings as India went on to seal a comfortable 7-wicket win.
Zaheer would go on to take match figures of 6 for 141 in the 3rd Test at Lords, and was justifiably awarded the Man of the Series. His performances in England would later go on to earn him the coveted Wisden Cricketer of The Year title in 2008.