Zaheer Khan's indispensability to the Indian team can be clearly understood from the fact that every expert feels the humiliation on the recentlyconcluded England tour could have been avoided had the pace spearhead not limped off the field on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's with a hamstring injury. That the absence of one player - Zaheer - could change the fate of the number one Test team is proof enough of not only the responsibility he shoulders, but also the pressure on him to perform every time he puts on his bowling shoes. But Zaheer isn't complaining. In the Capital to receive the Arjuna Award from sports minister Ajay Maken, Zaheer said he was more than happy to take the responsibility and deliver day in and day out. "Responsibilities aren't a burden for me. On the contrary, they always act as a motivation that my team needs me. I don't think the overdependence on me adds to any pressure. Rather it feels good to go to sleep with this kind of expectation," he said.
"It is always frustrating when the team is playing yet you are injured and can't be a part of the action. Hopefully, I will be back to play that role of leading India's bowling attack soon." Recuperating from the ankle surgery he underwent after a failed comeback attempt midway through the Test series, Zaheer is happy with the slow progress he is making and doesn't want to think much about the date of return.
"The first phase of my rehab programme went off pretty well. I have started with the second phase, (whereby) I have already started running and training. I will be soon going to the NCA (National Cricket Academy). Once at the NCA, I will consult the physios there and work further on my rehabilitation," the 32-year-old left-armer said.
"My progress has been slow but positive. But to start bowling, I have to get back to full strength in my ankle." Zaheer is not ready to set any timeframe on his return. "I am taking one day at a time and not setting any targets for my return. I have not decided on any date but I will be back very soon," he said.
"Injuries are part and parcel of every fast bowler's career, so all I am doing is being patient and listening to what the physios and experts have to say." Indian players have often been rushed into the national squad without testing their match-fitness, resulting in recurrence of their injuries. But Zaheer doesn't want to take any chances, so he wants to test his fitness before making a comeback into the national fold. "Every time that I have been injured, I have followed a process and I will do the same this time as well. I don't believe in rushing things. I will play a few club or first-class matches before I return to the international level," he said.
Speaking about the up-andcoming fast bowlers, Zaheer said although he hadn't seen them much, he was impressed with the little that he had. "International commitments have ensured that it isn't possible to follow domestic action, but I have seen quite a few good bowlers in the Indian Premier League. I think the likes of Umesh Yadav and Sreenath Aravind are really talented among others," he said.
When asked about his opinion on Shoaib Akhtar's autobiography 'Controversially Yours' where he has spoken about Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer said: "It's a waste of time to discuss such things as everyone knows what the truth is." Zaheer also doesn't support the idea of players being allowed to doctor the ball in sub-continent conditions, which are heavily in favour of the batsmen.
"I don't think there should be different rules for different countries. Also, in the sub-continent, the conditions are such that it starts reversing after a while. So I see no reason for application of such rules," he said. With Harbhajan Singh being dropped from the upcoming series against England due to poor form, Zaheer feels the axing will egg him on to come back stronger. "Harbhajan has done great things over the years and knowing him - the kind of fierce competitor that he is - I know he won't take things lying down. He will come back stronger," Zaheer said.
