Legendary Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan celebrates his 46th birthday today, October 7. Boasting all the qualities of a deadly pacer, Zaheer was known for finding ample swing with both the new and old ball. Zaheer delivered in crucial moments for India and came up with an impactful performance at the 2011 World Cup and the 2002/03 Champions Trophy. He even won the ACC Asia Cup in 2010. As Zaheer celebrates his birthday today, let us take a look at some of his memorable moments with Team India.
Hero of the 2011 World Cup
Zaheer Khan was the pillar of India’s bowling unit at the 2011 World Cup. Playing on home soil, the star pacer emerged as the tournament’s joint-highest wicket-taker at the ICC event alongside Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi. Zaheer scalped 21 wickets in the nine matches he played in the competition. His impressive haul at the World Cup proved crucial as India won their second-ever crown.
India’s top wicket-taker in the 2002/03 Champions Trophy
Another one of Zaheer Khan’s career-defining moments came over two decades back in the 2002/03 Champions Trophy. The Indian pacer emerged as the ICC tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker with eight scalps in five matches. He was tied at second place alongside Australia’s Glenn McGrath and Zimbabwe’s Douglas Hondo. His performances proved crucial as India became the joint winners of the prize along with tournament hosts Sri Lanka.
133-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar
In India’s 1st Test against Bangladesh in 2004, Zaheer Khan did the unthinkable. Not particularly known to deliver victories with the bat, the Indian pacer proved crucial during his side’s first innings. Zaheer smashed a 115-ball 75 to help India finish with 526 runs. Smashing boundaries alongside Sachin Tendulkar, the duo’s 133-run stand went on to become India’s highest 10th-wicket partnership in Test history. That record stands even today.
Hitting four consecutive sixes against Henry Olonga
Zaheer Khan came to India’s rescue with the bat on another occasion when he hit Henry Olonga for four straight sixes in 2000. India were hosting Zimbabwe for a five-match ODI series. In the third game, India were at 258/8 after 49.2 overs. That is when the Zaheer clubbed the Zimbabwean bowler for four sixes off the final four deliveries of the innings.
Five-wicket haul in final Test
Playing against New Zealand in 2014, Zaheer Khan bid adieu to Test cricket in a memorable way. He registered a five-wicket haul against the Kiwis at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. His heroics were not enough to secure a victory for India as the match ended in a draw. He retired with 311 wickets in red-ball cricket for India.
Zaheer Khan’s Coaching Career in IPL
Zaheer Khan is set to join the Lucknow Super Giants as a mentor in IPL 2025. The retired pacer would be looking to fill in the shoes of Gautam Gambhir who had left Lucknow for Kolkata Knight Riders before taking up the role as India’s head coach. Zaheer had also served as a bowling consultant for India in 2017.
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