Zaheer Khan - No country for fast bowlers
In a country which represents nearly a quarter of the fan following for the game of cricket, it becomes inevitable that the eleven men representing India become the talking point, more often than not. Players are glorified and some cricketers are written off. From open letters to tributes, stories of the heroes and legends never seem to fall short. Yet it may not be, for some are still unsung heroes, or recognized but not glorified enough. One such cricketer is Zaheer Khan.
For me, Zaheer Khan was never written or talked about as much as the batsmen or the ‘Fab Four’, yet he was as indispensable as any of them. India has always relied on its batters, yet for a decade, Zaheer was the backbone of the bowling line-up. He is arguably one of the best pacers that the country has produced. With over 300 test wickets and 282 ODI wickets, statistics prove that he is one of the finest fast bowlers of the country. However there is more to Zak than just stats. The intensity never dipped, the progress was always on the rise and the varied roles he played in the team, just sums up his contribution to Indian cricket.
When he came, he was the fast bowler India was in search of. He unleashed those lethal yorkers, bowled at considerable pace and ably supported the likes of Srinath and Agarkar. The fact that he was a left armer added some variety to India’s bowling. In 2003, he made a huge impact in the world cup barring the final against Australia. In a couple of years he cemented his place in both formats of the game!
But, like every story, Zak’s too had a lot of twists. Injury ruled him out, and in the later part of his career it would go on to frequent him more. However, the determined lad from Maharashtra came back only stronger. That is when the tag line, that stayed for the next 15 years was coined- Zak is Back! A brief stint at county cricket and a lot of introspection made the injury seem like a positive. Zaheer started working within the constraints of his body. The speeds dipped and the run up got shorter but the mind got sharper. He learnt the art of control, something that went on to define his bowling.
The unsung hero
When Srinath and Agarkar retired, a vacuum was created in the Indian team. The space was frequented by many, Pathan, R.P.Singh, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel and many more, yet Zaheer remained constant. In these years, he soon became the backbone of the Indian bowling. The thing that separated Zaheer from the other bowlers was that he evolved his game, yet he did not try too much. He struck that perfect balance. He swung the ball both ways and then he brought the reverse swing under his control, which was the most lethal weapon in his armory.
His bowling provided the team with an edge and many a times has won matches for the country. It was a delight watching him torment left-handed batsmen such as Graeme Smith and Sangakarra. It was fascinating to see him step up and reverse the ball, once it got old. He would deceive the best with his craft and that to, so effortlessly. He would swing the ball right at the top and outsmart the batsmen whenever the team was in desperate need of a wicket.
In the 2011 world cup he was the driving force behind Inida’s success. He was the unsung hero, finishing as the highest wicket taker. The wicket of Strauss in the league game, or the wicket of Hussey in the Quarter finals are just few memorable instances where he has broken partnerships at crucial junctures. He would get crucial wickets at the top and was also one of the better death bowlers. Apart from swinging, the ball, he would bowl the knuckle bowl, use the crease effectively and hit perfect line and lengths. He surely must be India’s most versatile and clever bowler.
In the later part of his career he also started motivating and educating youngsters about his craft. He soon became the unofficial mentor of Team India. The tips and suggestions he provided have helped young fast bowlers, just coming into the side. These are reasons why, the cries for him being appointed as coach have grown louder.
It is unfortunate that he retired without any farewell game or an emotional send off, after all, the Indian captain himself called him, “The Sachin Tendulkar of India’s bowling”! The sad part is, in a country that puts great performers at a greater level, Zaheer Khan has not been glorified enough. The legend has not been built for the man who has single-handedly carried the burden of the bowling attack and been the leader of the attack for more than a decade,now.
I also feel a little guilty when I think Zak will no more be back.