Fit Zaheer back in vogue

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: India''s recent contest against Adam Ponting''s Australia — first Adam Gilchrist, then Ricky Ponting led the Kangaroos — showed that an in-form Zaheer Khan provides Z-category edge to the team. Not only did the 26-year-old play his first full Test series in a year, but also took ten wickets and regained some much-needed confidence.<br /><br />Zaheer, in Kolkata for the BCCI Platinum Jubilee match against Pakistan, got on the phone with ToI. The conversation topics ranged from his frequent injuries, which left him "clueless", to Shrirampur, once a hometown but now a stop difficult to make because of a busy schedule.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Excerpts from the interview</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On the Test series against Australia: </span>I had gone through a bad patch lasting a seven or eight months during which various injuries had left me clueless. This was a comeback series for me and I am happy I did fairly well.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On his fitness problems: </span>A fast bowler is bound to face them. What was puzzling was new muscle groups would get affected every time. I would take care of one injury, and another would surface. I lost confidence, was restless and did not know where I stood. Moreover, there was the feeling of having let the team down. Doctors told me that the cause of injuries was some kind of an imbalance in my body, the technical name of which I don''t know. Andrew Leipus then put me on core stability exercises with a gym ball. I also spent some time at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai. That helped.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On his cherished wicket, now that he is seven away from reaching 100 Test scalps: </span>Justin Langer''s in the second innings of the Mumbai Test against Australia. It gave India a good start. Pulling the opposition to 0-1 is every opening bowler''s dream.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On the ICC study which revealed that most bowlers chuck:</span> I am not very sure about the details, so I would not like to comment on the matter.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On the forthcoming series against South Africa:</span> It''s unfortunate that Herschelle Gibbs is not coming. He is a super batsman. Nevertheless, I am keen. I found my rhythm against Australia and want to keep the good work going. South Africa may not have been in their best form but every series is different.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On pitches in India being made for spinners: </span>It''s the right way to go about because like it or not, spin is our strength. Besides, it''s not that fast bowlers cannot get wickets on spinning tracks. Jason Gillespie''s performance here proves that.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On being the lone specialist pace bowler in the team in the Mumbai Test:</span> That was team strategy. The playing eleven are picked after looking at the pitch and me or anyone else are parts of the plan. My responsibility is that of getting early breakthroughs.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On visiting Shrirampur, where he grew up: </span>I haven''t been there in a year as I have been busy. But when I do go there I enjoy catching up with friends. It''s nice to stay in touch with your roots.</div> </div>