Re-born Zaheer returns to spearhead India’s pace attack in South Africa

India's hero in the last two Test series in South Africa is back, fitter and wiser from experience , as he dons the most experienced cap in the side.

India's Zaheer Khan is raring to go in what will be his final comeback into the side. Ian Kington / AFP

JOHANNESBURG // If this Indian team is to become the first one to win a Test series in South Africa, or come anywhere close to threatening to do so, more will depend on Zaheer Khan than any other member of the 17-man squad picked to play two matches.

It goes without saying that nothing can be achieved without runs on the board, but it is bowlers who win you matches and there is none more primed for the job in the Indian attack than Zaheer.

The last year has been a difficult one for Zaheer, as being out of the team always is. But, at some point he had a choice: does he call time on his serious career, and milk the Indian Premier League for what it is worth, or does he mount a serious comeback?

Once he decided that his 35-year-old body still had overs left in it, Zaheer plotted his return. A punishing stint in the south of France with Tim Exeter, the former rugby international, who now specialises in fitness regimens for elite athletes, followed a spell with old mate and trainer Adrian Le Roux in Bloemfontein set the base.

From there on, Zaheer got on the treadmill of domestic cricket, playing first-class matches for India A and his local Mumbai side in the Ranji Trophy. There is more than one bowler rolled into Zaheer.

In 2000, there was the young tyro who excited Indians with his energetic leap, his pace and his aggression. Then came the decline, as the demands on his body grew and the passage of time took its toll.

Dropped from the Indian team, a second Zaheer emerged in 2007, the man they called Zippy Zakky, when picked up 78 wickets for Worcestershire in domestic cricket, and made a comeback to the Indian team. This was Zaheer the Wise, a bowler who worked out batsmen because he could not blast them out anymore. This was a bowler who picked up early wickets abroad and yet was a demon with the old ball at home.

Now, in 2013, making what could be his final comeback, stands before us Zaheer the Consolidated. He has dropped all his excess weight – he will not say how many kilogrammes – and looks as young as he was in 2000.

The thought that he was the seniormost player in the mix did not even enter Zaheer’s head, though he is indeed that man, with Sachin Tendulkar having moved on. “I haven’t really experienced the thought which you’re …” began Zaheer, breaking into laugher when it was suggested he should demand a bit more respect from the young tykes in the team. “You’ve definitely put that thought in my mind now.”

But his teammates do not need to be reminded. “He has done it in the past and it’s not like we are putting any extra pressure or expectations on him, but we know what he is capable of,” said the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

“He is definitely going to be the leader of our attack and there are no two ways about that. I think we’ve got to be ready for a fight no matter what happens and as Zaheer said, the bowlers have got better with the one-dayers progressing. He will really mentor the guys.”

Zaheer knows what it takes to win in South Africa, having starred in India’s triumphs at the Wanderers in 2006 and at Kingsmead in 2010. In those wins, Zaheer struck every 35 balls and each wicket cost him only 18.54 runs.

“First of all, you got to have that belief and you got to back yourself and play good cricket,” said Zaheer. “For any team to do well anywhere, you need to have good days together and keep coming back all the time and have the belief. So I would say that was our success mantra during the earlier tours, and this tour also we will look to do the same.”

Zaheer said that he “can’t be happier” with his preparations leading into the series and that the time for talk was drawing to a close. “Talks is talk. You can talk as much as you like outside. Once you go on to the field, it’s all about doing. And I think this Indian team will do the needful. Whatever it’s going to take to win this series,” said Zaheer.

“It is very important for any fast bowling unit to pick up early wickets and that really sets the tone. Especially in Test matches, if you can make early inroads … that is the responsibility of the opening bowlers.”

In South Africa, India have quickly learnt that you need bowlers who hit the deck, not merely float the ball out there and hope that swing will do the job. The course correction, in terms of team selection, happened swiftly in the ODIs, and come the Tests, India have the added advantage Zaheer showing them the way, much as Dale Steyn does with his colleagues.

“I am very happy that finally I am making a comeback, and this is definitely the beginning of a new journey for me, one which I am going to enjoy,” said Zaheer. “It’s been a great learning curve, and I have always had faith in my ability. I knew that if I do what I have to do, I could make a comeback. I was never looking at the results for I knew the results would take care of themselves. That’s how I approach the whole journey.”

Just when you thought a fast bowler turned wily seamer had become a philosopher, Zaheer showed that the cheeky bugger in him was very much alive.

When asked about what he needed to do to dismiss Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain – something that has happened in each of the last six Tests when the two have squared off – Zippy Zakky came to the fore: “I think I just have to turn up.”

Anand Vasu is managing editor at Wisden India.

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