Zaheer Khan, the former left-arm pacer who has an impressive record playing Tests in South Africa, has singled out India’s 31-year-old player as a ‘game-changing bowler’. Zaheer Khan knows a thing or two about what it’s like to bowl in South Africa. The former India left-arm pacer has a fine record in the overseas country, having picked up 30 wickets from only eight Test matches.
His figures of 4/88 in Johannesburg 2013, and 3/36 in Durban 2010 are two of the best bowling spells by an Indian fast bowler in South Africa.
Zaheer Khan Sure Indian Pacers Will Relish The Challenge In South African Pitches Favouring Pacers
Ahead of the first Test between India and South Africa on Sunday, the former India pacer feels the pitches in the country will test the Indian pacers. The Indian pace attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who had made his Test debut in South Africa in 2018.
“When you are playing in Johannesburg, you have the challenge of adjusting to the altitude (1,753 m). That’s one challenge every bowler has to face. The high altitude tests your fitness. Apart from that, fast bowlers really enjoy bowling in SA because there is always something in their pitches for them right through the Test. I am sure our bowlers will relish the challenge,” Zaheer Khan said.
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has highly rated India’s fast bowling department ahead of the start of the South Africa Test series and reiterated the fact that the pace battery is capable of picking up 20 wickets in a match.
For the South Africa series, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will return, and along with Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, and Shardul Thakur, India will reform the pack that has made India a threat in overseas conditions.
Zaheer Khan: Mohammed Shami Is A Game-Changing Bowler As He Provides Crucial Breakthroughs At Critical Junctures
Zaheer Khan had a special mention for Mohammed Shami, whom he called a ‘game-changing bowler’. Mohammed Shami’s first tour of South Africa happened to be Zaheer Khan’s last, where the former left-arm quick mentored the pacer from Bengal in 2013.
Eight years later, Mohammed Shami has emerged to become a linchpin of India’s pace bowling attack. In fact, the last time India toured South Africa in 2018, Mohammed Shami picked up a five-for, finishing with 5/28, and played a crucial role in his team’s only win of the Test series.
Mohammed Shami has till now picked 21 scalps in 5 Tests in South Africa averaging 24.71. He has picked up as many as 11 scalps in the Wanderers Stadium playing 2 Tests which included the aforementioned 5 wicket haul.
“Watching his success gives me a great high. His journey has been fantastic; in fact, all Indian pacers have developed into fine bowlers. Shami has got a terrific record and is one of the leaders of the pack. The best part about him is that he provides crucial breakthroughs at crucial times,” added Zaheer.
“He is a game-changing bowler. I have always judged myself as well as other bowlers on the ability to prise out 2-3 important wickets in a spell that can potentially change the game. Shami has that ability. Not surprisingly, he is an important part of our world-class pace attack.”
Zaheer Khan spoke highly of Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj, who are usually the replacement bowlers. But while India has all boxes ticked as far as fast-bowling is concerned, Zaheer Khan pointed out one variety that the team lacks which is a left-arm pacer, even though it is no deal-breaker.
Notably, the rainbow nation is the only country where India hasn’t recorded a Test series win. As Virat Kohli’s men did well in England and Australia earlier this year, many are backing them to shine against the Proteas side as well. Calling the speedster a ‘truly world-class pacer,’ the veteran pacer said Jasprit Bumrah would enjoy bowling in the rainbow nation.