Zaheer Khan will see a familiar face amidst new surroundings at the Wankhede stadium — Sudhir Naik.
Naik, one-time coach under whom the India new-ball spearhead learnt the ropes at National CC and later did apprenticeship in Mumbai club cricket, is the curator.
Lush outfield with sandy patches near the ropes, freshly-laid wickets and imposing stands at the World Cup 2011 venue will be a novelty for the left-arm pace ace.
Naik knows every inch of the Wankhede outfield and also how the tracks will behave, so the helpline for Zaheer is close at hand on his second WC final appearance. “The wicket will be a batting track, so even teams batting second in the final can look for runs,” said the curator.
“Both league matches here (Sri Lanka-New Zealand, Canada-New Zealand) helped batsmen, among whom only Kumar Sangakkara took full advantage of the wicket and paced his knock beautifully.”
The coach is looking forward to catching up with his former National CC student, now leader of India's bowling attack and this tournament's second highest wicket-taker. “I have enjoyed all his spells with the old ball so far in this World Cup,” said Naik, describing Zaheer as a complete bowler.
“Accuracy is allowing him to change bowling line at will, change ends and change field placements when he wishes. If Plan A doesn't work, he switches to Plan B or Plan C.”
Transition
Naik's first impressions of Zaheer at the National CC nets. “He wanted to bowl fast when I saw him first time in 1996, he had only pace and nothing else. In the first season he ended up playing for our club, then was picked for Mumbai U-19,” said the curator noting with pride the transition of his pupil into a lethal bowler for India.
“Experience has helped him so much. He is an intelligent fast bowler.”
Zaheer was an engineering student before getting engrossed in the mechanics of reverse swing. “Aerodynamics and reverse swing are concepts talked about by coaches now, he was quick to understand it long time ago due to his science background,” said Naik. “The MRF Pace Foundation training helped him develop strength, his stint there developed the muscles needed for bowling fast.”
Zaheer, already India's highest wicket-taker (19 wickets in eight games), could have increased his haul with a good bowler at the other end, feels Naik.
“India is missing a good bowler to partner him. Batsmen take a single off him and go to the other end, so pressure exerted by Zaheer goes off. Cricket history shows how fast bowlers operating in pairs can be deadly, the West Indies used four at one time,” said Naik.
Changing times
Times have changed and India opened with off-spinner R. Ashwin against the West Indies in a league game and Australia in the quarterfinal. “Even Harbhajan Singh getting wickets at the other end would have helped tighten pressure on batsmen,” said Naik, pointing out that fast bowlers mature around 28, 29 and 30 years.
“Zaheer has such a hold over batsmen that even captain M.S. Dhoni brings him on whenever team needs a breakthrough.”
The last two knockout games saw the 32-year-old left-armer at his devastating best, deceiving Mike Hussey, Cameron White in the quarterfinal, Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq in the semifinal.
“Every time the ball is in Zaheer's hands, rivals feel the heat and even viewers get excited as if something is going to happen,” said the Wankhede curator, looking forward to a contest between his pupil and classy Sri Lanka on a wicket supposed to favour batsmen.
Pressure
Is the pressure on him as a curator similar to those faced by players gearing up for the title clash? “I am doing this for a long time and have got used to it,” said Naik about the work by his team to set up a fitting finale for World Cup 2011.
The Indian bowling unit rose to the occasion in the last two matches, chipping in with wickets or tight spells in the make-or-break knockouts.
As leader of the pack Zaheer gets another chance to deal the body blows.
Watching the contest with pride will be the curator, wishing runs for batsmen at the Wankhde and wickets for his former student (two wickets behind leader Shahid Afridi at 21).
