Opinion No shortcuts for Zaheer
Zaheer Khan could easily be the most-prepared,if not the fittest,cricketer in the squad for the SA tour.
Sandeep Dwivedi
Zaheer Khan could easily be the most-prepared,if not the fittest,cricketer in the squad for the South Africa tour. Thats not something that has been said very often about the pacer during his long career. The backstory responsible for this image change is about an ageing quicks fight with his fragile body. Its about travelling the extra mile to achieve that one thing all sportspersons at the fag end of their careers dream of summiting the peak one last time.
So when Zaheer was dropped from the Indian team last year and later got injured,he didnt take the easy option. Unlike many before him,Zaheer didnt quit or opt to give up on the longer version and pocket easy IPL money. Nor did he stay put at the NCA,waiting for the BCCI-funded recovery to slowly kick in. Instead,he travelled to interior France to be with a new-age high-performance physical trainer,Tim Exeter. Kilos shed,he flew to Bloemfontein and sought the advice of Adrian Le Roux,a sports scientist who was with the Indian team when Zaheer first burst on to the scene.
After getting into shape (he hasnt looked this lean ever) Zaheer managed to get enough match-time under his belt. He would have bowled more than 100 first-class overs before he enters the flight to Johannesburg next month. That must be a comforting thought for someone who always believed that bowling in match situations is the best form of training. The selectors too have played their part,wrapping him in cotton wool,keeping him fresh for South Africa.
While the other Indian pacers were barely breaking sweat during the West Indies series at home,Zaheer was toiling it out on the domestic circuit. With him leading the Mumbai unit,Zaheer could plan his spells. He could decide just when he needed to go full-tilt or when he should save his energy for bigger battles ahead.
Lahli rolled out a perfect welcome pitch for him in Mumbais opening Ranji game. Zaheer finished with five wickets in the game. But still,he didnt really hit that old Zak length that once made batsmen juggle between staying back,stepping forward,leaving,driving or defending. Yes,he made the ball move off the pitch,but the excessive swing constantly missed the bat. He ran in fast all day but missed his rhythm of old.
In the games to follow,Zaheer would gradually hit the stride and his last bowling performace before the selectors got together on Monday saw him finish with a five-for. Zaheer had come up with the answers. Yet,a few questions remain.
At 35,does he have it in him to be his old self? Zaheer sure looks fit but is he sharp enough to lead Indias attack against a solid batting side? These puzzles,of course,will only be be solved in a couple of weeks time,when he is at the top of his run-up at the Wanderers.
(Sandeep is the National Sports Editor,based in New Delhi.)
sandeep.dwivedi@expressindia.com
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