Zaheer Khan
Mumbai's hero Zaheer Khan on his seven-wicket haul which cast a spell on UP
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Zaheer Khan Interview - 'I didn't warm up today'
Mumbai: Uttar Pradesh might have seen some light at the end of the tunnel at stumps at the end of Day 2. Though they were reeling at 91 for the loss of 3 wickets, Shivakant Shukla was at the crease. Yes, the same Shukla who stood his ground and fended off a Tamil Nadu onslaught in the semi-final to guide his side though to the final.
However, a certain Zaheer Khan all but extinguished that light at the end of the tunnel, with a spell that got rid off Shukla, and more importantly ripped apart the Uttar Pradesh batting order. Uttar Pradesh were all out on Day 3, dismissed for 245, and 7 of those wickets fell to the bowling of Zaheer Khan. He returned with outstanding figures of 7 for 54 and.
"The wicket was helpful," said a modest Zaheer Khan, speaking to former India opener VB Chandrashekhar. "I got the ball in the right areas. In the morning I wasn't bowling too close to the stumps, but I got the ball in the right areas," added Zaheer.
Kevin Pietersen, when England toured India late last year, praised the way Zaheer bowled with the old ball. And according to Zaheer, ironically, he has English county cricket to thank for that. "Bowling in the English county cricket for Worcestershire has helped my bowling. You tend to bowl a lot of overs in county cricket and that has helped me to get to know my bowling. Bowling a lot of overs tends to be the key," said Zaheer.
This is Zaheer's third Ranji final and he seems to have made a habit of performing well in them. He took his second five-for in back-to-back Ranji Trophy finals. "I made my debut for Mumbai in a Ranji final, two years ago versus Bengal, and it was a very good match for me. This is my third Ranji final (played for once for Baroda as well)," said Zaheer.
aheer claimed the wickets of Tanmay Srivastava, Shivakant Shukla, Uttar Pradesh captain Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar, Amir Khan and Praveen Gupta. In that list are a lot of batsmen who could have changed the course of the game, in Uttar Pradesh's favour, had they stayed at the crease.
"I didn't warm up today," Zaheer joked, when asked how he got geared up today to take seven wickets. "You have to take it easy and relax and play. You have to know when to switch on and switch off."
Zaheer, has been a big help to the other Mumbai bowlers in the side, who learn a lot from the fast bowler. It is rumoured that he has also told the Mumbai bowlers to bowl bouncers. "Yes, of course I did," Zaheer said. "It is important to bowl bouncers as it puts batsmen on the back foot. You can upset him and his footwork and on this wicket it is very helpful."
It would seem to many that Zaheer is in the form of his life. "When you're thinking in your mind what to bowl and you're actually running in and doing that, that's what good form is," Zaheer said.
Zaheer also added that he hoped he would bowl again in this match, at some stage. If this spell is anything to go by, no Uttar Pradesh batsman would want that. Two years ago, in the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal, Zaheer was the difference between the two sides, and it would seem that this year is no different.
How the Uttar Pradesh team will now rue the fact that the tour of Pakistan was cancelled, for a certain Zaheer Khan would not have been around to wreak havoc.
