Zaheer Khan will miss the opening Test of the home series against South Africa. The pace ace, who is undergoing treatment on his injured left heel, has ruled himself out of the first Test beginning in Chennai on March 26. Speaking to rediff.com Zaheer, who will represent the Rahul Dravid-led Bangalore Royal Challengers in the inaugural Indian Premier League next month said, "I'll certainly not be playing the first Test against South Africa."
'It was tough to give up cricket. But I received very good guidance from my mother. She told me to become a nice human being, whether I am a good cricketer or not.'
Sachin Tendulkar benefited from an excellent series against South Africa and moved to No 21 in the LG ICC batting rankings.
He is yet to recover from a groin injury and seemed uncertain to play the one-off one-dayer on Saturday.
19-year-old Irfan Pathan Jr will replace an injured Zaheer Khan.
Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar was included in the 15-member Indian squad, but the struggling Virender Sehwag was given a rest for the Asia Cup tournament to be played in Bangladesh next month.
Zaheer Khan says he would stay positive and come back a stronger athlete.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might have dismissed Kumar Sangakkara in his last four innings, but the legendary cricketer rated veteran India pacer Zaheer Khan as one of the most dangerous bowlers he has faced during his 15-year long illustrious career.
'I was already on that flight, mentally. But when I wasn't selected, it hit me hard. I couldn't understand what went wrong.'
Dhoni caught up with former team-mates Zaheer Khan, Parthiv Patel and Ashish Nehra.
The exclusion of Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan was expected. The decision, which took a long time coming, in all likelihood, brings the curtains down on the One-day careers of the trio, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Shami marked his return to ICC tournament with an exceptional five-for while also becoming the fastest Indian and the second quickest overall to reach 200 ODI wickets
India's veteran pacer Zaheer Khan underwent a fitness test at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai before the selection committee's meeting to pick the first Test against England, starting next week.
The other Indian bowlers who have taken 300 Test wickets or more include Anil Kumble (619), R Ashwin (524), Kapil Dev (434), Harbhajan Singh (417), Ishant Sharma (311) and Zaheer Khan (311).
'When Bumrah is not bowling, we should go on the defensive and keep them all tied up.' 'Just stop the flow of runs and wickets will fall.'
While Aamir Khan enjoyed a quiet Eid with his family, Salman Khan preferred to party at his sister Arpita Khan's Eid bash.
The vice-captain of the Australian team Michael Clarke feels that combating India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be a tough ask but they are up for it.
Iconic Sachin Tendulkar and limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have led the bandwagon of former and current cricketers praising Zaheer Khan, who ended his international career on Thursday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor Dinesh Karthik conceded that his side has received a 'challenging' pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season despite asking for a batting friendly surface.
It turned out to be a starry affair as some of India's top current and former cricketers attended former union civil aviation minister Praful Patel's daughter Poorna's sangeet ceremony in Mumbai on Thursday.
India suffered a severe jolt ahead their three-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting on July 18 with strike bowler Zaheer Khan being ruled out due to a shoulder injury.
Ever since Rohit took on the role of an opener in Tests, he has achieved notable success, including scoring impressive centuries in challenging conditions.
"We have three days, but I am not 100 per cent sure whether he will play or not," skipper M S Dhoni said, adding, "It is a long series and we don't want to risk any individual."
Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard has defended Rohit Sharma's recent struggles in IPL 2025, saying the veteran batter should not be judged on a few low scores.
With Zaheer Khan out of the series, former India stumper Kiran More tells Bikash Mohapatra, the Indian team has a tall task ahead.
Runs may have dried up for Rahul Dravid but there is no dearth of support from his teammates including Zaheer Khan, who believes the right-hander is due for a big knock against Australia.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan needs to bowl a lot in order to be fully fit for the first Test against Australia, starting on the Boxing Day.
The left armer underwent the fitness test under the supervision of team physio Andrew Leipus and trainer Gregory Allan King.
Impressed by Zaheer Khan's splendid performance, former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram on Friday rated him as the best left-arm pacer in the game in the present times.
Gautam Gambhir has enlisted Kolkata Knight Riders Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar's expertise for the role of assistant coach with Team India.
If history is anything to go by, Leeds always has room for a little magic.
Eight years ago he faltered at the biggest stage in cricket, the World Cup summit clash against Australia in Johannesburg, but on Saturday Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan truly exorcised that disastrous spell of bowling with a splendid opening burst against Sri Lanka.
In another blow to Mumbai Indians' campaign in IPL-7, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, according to skipper Rohit Sharma.
Royal Challengers Bangalore's Zaheer Khan is eager to "reclaim" his place in the Indian team and said he will look to use the period after IPL to attain peak fitness.
With a pace attack led by two injury-prone bowlers, things are not looking too good for India ahead of the gruelling Test series against Australia, feels fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath.
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed disappointment with the Eden Gardens pitch, lamenting the lack of assistance for spinners after his team's second loss at home.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India recommended pace spearhead Zaheer Khan for the prestigious Arjuna award following his excellent showing in India's World Cup-winning campaign.
Australia's batting mainstay Michael Hussey believes Zaheer Khan's absence is a big blow for the Indian team in the seven-match ODI series, beginning in Vadodara, on Sunday.
During the first Test against England in Hyderabad, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja surpassed the iconic pair of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh as the most successful Test bowling duo for India.
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