Why Zaheer Khan may just be the perfect mentor for India's quicks

A CRICKETER'S RETIREMENT opens up the door to endless possibilities, often known as post-retirement careers. It may not be such a bad idea for recently retired Zaheer Khan to become India's bowling coach in the near future, considering his vast experience as the premier fast bowler of his time.

There are some cricketers who still want to be actively involved in their contribution to the sport that has defined their life. Rahul Dravid, for example. Post his retirement, Dravid took some time off before he made himself available for a new challenge. It wasn't surprising to see him take charge of the India A and the U-19 teams as head coach earlier this year. After all, he is one of the most respected and intelligent batsmen in Indian cricket. With a mind as sharp and analytical as Dravid's, the young boys could not have asked for more.  

Very few cricketers, especially bowlers, get the kind of appreciation and recognition that Zaheer has been showered with ever since his retirement news came out. Teammates, both past and present, described him as a shrewd, intelligent bowler who could dictate terms to the batsmen, and someone who knew the art of taking wickets at crucial junctures. He was, by all means, a thinking bowler and an exponent of swing bowling that made him the second-most successful Indian fast bowler after Kapil Dev. He bowled to a plan, and his plan was to take wickets. 

His numbers give further evidence -- a total of 610 wickets in international cricket and over 1000 wickets in first-class, List A and Twenty20 cricket combined in a 15-year long career. This, despite being unfortunately pulled down time and again by niggles, hamstrings and other injuries. He may have had a slightly longer career, if it wasn't for the recurring injury concerns.

But Zaheer's contribution to Indian cricket goes beyond numbers. Even when he struggled for fitness and form, his never-say-die attitude spoke of his character. He was someone who clearly wanted to give every inch of his body to the game. Towards the end of his career, Zak had started passing advice to the younger bowlers in the team, without ever considering himself a genius.

In the IPL, he would go up to inexperienced bowlers and constantly talk to them about their bowling plans, no matter how young those bowlers were. Nobody ever forced him to share his experience and knowledge with others. He did it at will, and that's what made him the most likeable person in whichever team he played. He was an asset, both on as well as off the field. It is hard to find a cricketer who shares great camaraderie with almost every team member. Zaheer was one of the few who did.

On the field, he was an enigma, ruthlessly preying on the batsmen and waiting for them to make a mistake. Outside the cricket world, he comes across as one of the most down-to-earth, humble and soft-spoken human beings cricket may have ever seen. It is his level-headed nature and maturity as a bowler that makes him the perfect role model for today’s young generation. Zak has unknowingly shaped the future of many youngsters while he was still playing for India in international cricket, Mumbai in domestic cricket, and a couple of franchises in the IPL. And they have all acknowledged his contribution to their growing careers.

As a bowler who never gave up despite being injury-prone, Zaheer has a lot to teach this generation of aspiring fast bowlers. Nowadays, an injury is almost equal to a fading career. Zaheer’s experience with injuries can come in handy at such situations. Injuries do not mean the end of the world, there can be comebacks, just like Zak’s in 2007. There is no dearth of bowling talent in India, all they need is someone to sharpen their skills with experience and proper guidance. Zaheer ticks all the boxes.

B Arun will continue as India's bowling coach till the 2016 World T20, as per BCCI’s contract extension. Zaheer will sign off with IPL 9 next year and will be completely free from his duties. If the BCCI manages to rope him in, there will be no better foundation for upcoming Indian quicks.