An open Letter from a Zaheer Khan fan

An open Letter from a Zaheer Khan fan:

To Zaheer Khan,

I experienced a shock of sorts when I came to know about your international retirement. You have managed to bounce back from the odds time and again, making jaw dropping comebacks. But again, I guess even will power has its limits, and at 37, age might have finally caught up to you.

When you finally burst into the international arena, along with a certain Yuvraj Singh in Nairobi, it was a sign that you were destined for greatness. With a jumpy action, and not to mention consistently clocking above 135+, it finally gave hope to Indian fans, who were desperately seeking a fast bowler who could actually trouble the batsmen with pace and swing, and not just swing alone. And 15 years down the line, you will be forever remembered by Indian cricket fans as one of the greatest Indian pacers, and internationally, as one of the best left armers to have graced the game in recent times.

With a high jump action, it was quite a delight to watch, even for batsmen centric fans. Of course, you did not have the pace of Mitchell Johnson or Brett Lee. But the subtle variation, especially in the latter half of the career, was what made you such a champion bowler. Even without the best of physic to suit the pacers, even after being hampered by injuries time and again, you rose up to the challenge, and delivered for the team.

Two particular spells, under similar circumstances, can define your career in an abridged version.

The 2003 World Cup finals; with India playing in a World Cup final for the first time since the epic 1983 campaign, and you being India’s highest wicket taker in the tournament were the opening bowler. Against a monstrous duo of Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, you had a huge responsibility of giving India a good start. But unfortunately, nerves got to you, and were taken down by the openers. Post a horrendous start, India never really recovered.

Flash forward to 2011, another World Cup final, but this time in India. While Yuvraj Singh and Sachin garnered all the limelight, you did your job silently and efficiently. Despite having an 8-year gap between the two events, you were still India’s opening bowler, and you were yet again India’s leading wicket taker in the tournament. But by this time, you had matured. You knew what and where you went wrong the previous time, and nerves did not have a chance. Three successive maidens, along with a wicket of Upul Tharanga, gave India the best start possible. Your figures after the first spell read 5-3-6-1.

It is this ability; the ability to adapt and come back from the brink being more mature and prepared, which makes you a perfect role model for each and every aspiring cricketer. Injuries have been one of the major aspects of your career, and struck you time and again without mercy. But you never gave up. Following your injury debacle and loss of form post 2005, you lost your place to much fitter, able youngsters. But your drive to keep pushing yourself kept you going. Post an incredible county stint for Worchestershire, you slowly but steadily came back into the selectors’ radar, and got your opportunity in India’s tour of South Africa. And the rest is history.

Yes, your run-up was shortened, so was your jump time. But you added many more weapons to your armory. Your ability to swing back into the left-handers was exceptionally helpful in South Africa and England; of course who can forget your battles with Graeme Smith and Alastair Cook. And not to mention, you revived the art of reverse swing in sub-continent conditions, and your contributions with the ball was crucial for India’s rise to pinnacle of the Test rankings by 2009.

Without doubt, the 2011 World Cup was certainly the highest point of your career. Not only did you provide the team those early breakthroughs, but your ability to reverse-swing was a crucial factor in India’s stratagem, especially during the-then prevalent batting powerplay. If not for Yuvraj’s all round performance, perhaps you might have won the player of the series. But definitely you were one of the most valuable players of the tournament, hands down.

But post the pinnacle, it was a nosedive. Tragedy stuck when you infamously pulled out of the very first Test in India’s tour of England, and perhaps you never managed to recover back. Your spirit and the mental attitude to become the best was never dying, but your body began to disappoint you more often than not. Yes, there were glimpses of your past form, when you bamboozled the opposition with your intelligent bowling strategies. Heck, you got a five wicket hall in the last Test match you played. But finally, your body won over your mind.

Though the drive to keep playing is never lost in you, I guess you have finally realized that having the “international comeback” will be more of a bane than not, and this is a wise decision, really. With you being 37, I feel it is a perfect time to finally hang your boots, at least as far as international career is concerned.

You are a true champion for the game. Never trying to hog the limelight, but getting the job done; what more can a captain or team ask from a player? You might have not been a prodigy, but hard-work, with a speckle of talent, is enough for success. And you are a prime example for that statement.

Though I would be particularly saddened about not seeing you in the national clothes, with you continuing to play in the IPL, I, along with other fans of yours, will cherish your final days as a professional cricketer.

Thank You for playing a major part in realizing an Indian dream spanning nearly 3 decades. Thank you for showing a nation full of batsmen-fanatics that yes one can become a great fast bowler, despite being an Indian. And finally, Thank You Zak for all the memories you have given us wearing the Indian color.

Sincerely,

Your fan