Zaheer wants to play his part

It was Zaheer who instilled self-belief among the Indian bowlers by effecting a rare Australian batting collapse in the first Test at the Gabba. After the hosts finished the first day at 236 for two, the bowler took five wickets as Australia were dismissed for 323.

Zaheer’s approach would be the same as it had been in the Gabba Test — bowl flat out against the Australians — even if he overstepped the crease a few times. ‘‘But for losing wickets on no-balls, I don’t mind (overstepping). The key has always been to hit the right length and get my rhythm going.’’

Zaheer denied he suffered any psychological damage after the Australians went after him in the World Cup and then in the recent triangular series in India. ‘‘I always try and do what I want to do rather than ponder on the opposition. At any game, any stage of my career, I just try to do the same thing,’’ Zaheer said.

‘‘The World Cup final was just a one off-day for us. It didn’t work for us that day. But we look at that as a learning process. You learn more and more from each game. The process is never-ending. It’s past. We are now looking at the future.’’

Zaheer expressed confidence that the Indian batsmen were capable of hammering any bowling attack and said that the team has also prepared a plan to bowl to the formidable Australian batting line-up.

‘‘Our batsmen are capable of hammering anyone. I would back my batsmen. As for bowling to their batters, we try to work out team plans and play accordingly. We decide on a plan, a strategy, how to bowl to a batsman. The plans are also dictated by the situation of a game,’’ Zaheer said.