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It’s nice to be playing for Mumbai again: Zaheer

S. Dinakar

— Photo: K. Pichumani

GETTING READY: Ramesh Powar (from left), Zaheer Khan, Abhishek Nayar and Ajit Agarkar — seen at the MAC ‘B’ Stadium on Friday —will form a formidable bowling line-up for Mumbai.

Chennai: Zaheer Khan wants to keep things simple in 2009. “I just want to continue the way I bowled last year,” he said here on Friday.

The year gone by was a triumphant one for Zaheer. More than his tally of wickets – 27 in nine Tests – the quality of his bowling and scalps demanded attention. He struck at the beginning of the innings, prised out batsmen with reverse swing and created pressure with his consistency.

Zaheer also formed a potent left-right opening combination with the lanky Ishant Sharma. Being adjudged Man of the two-Test Series against England was just reward for some outstanding bowling by Zaheer.

Fresh year

The Ranji Trophy semifinal against Saurashtra — beginning at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday — marks the start of a fresh year for the left-arm paceman.

“It’s nice to be playing for Mumbai again after quite a while. The boys have done extremely well to get the team to this point. Hopefully, we will win the Ranji Trophy,” he said.

Both Mumbai and Saurashtra had buzzing practice sessions at the MAC ‘B’ ground. Sachin Tendulkar — the maestro will bolster Mumbai in the last four duel — joined the team on Friday evening.

Zaheer was excited at the prospect of playing with Tendulkar in a crucial Ranji match. He was, however, not willing to take the challenge from Saurashtra lightly. “We have been following the scores in the newspapers. Cheteshwar Pujara has been among big runs. Ravindra Jadeja has done well as an all-rounder. It should be a good match,” said Zaheer.

Just three short of two hundred Test wickets — he has 197 scalps in 62 Tests at 34.04 — Zaheer asserted he was not looking at landmarks. “If milestones happen along the way, it is fine. But numbers are not on my mind.”

An international career that began in 2000 – Zaheer sent down fast and furious yorkers then – is peaking now. The Zaheer of today consumes batsmen with seam and swing; he also changes his pace and angles cleverly.

Zaheer admitted that shortening his run-up made him a better bowler. “This has helped me in maintaining my fitness and my length and line.”

Tinge of green

Pujara looked forward to the prospect of facing the crafty Zaheer at Chepauk. Curator K. Parthasarathy maintained that the pitch for the match would sport a tinge of green and Pujara could be tested by Zaheer & Co.

The right-hander has a whopping 867 runs at 86.70 in Super League this year. His 112 not out enabled Saurashtra score a sensational win, chasing 325, against Karnataka in the quarterfinals in Mumbai. His runs have been scored at a creditable strike-rate of 72.12. “I want to deliver in all formats,” he said. Pujara’s four three-figure Ranji innings this year include a triple century. He seeks another hundred in the last four contest. Being close to selection in the Indian team is not weighing on his mind. On Pujara rest much of Saurashtra’s hopes.

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