The tall Indian bowlers should bowl bouncers more frequently
Ishant Sharma. (Photo: PTI/File)
Mumbai: Veteran speedster Zaheer Khan teamed up with Andrew Leipus, former physiotherapist of the Indian team, and Adrian Le Roux, the team’s fitness trainer, on Tuesday to launch Pro-Sport, a sprawling fitness training centre in Mumbai. Zaheer, who just finished his injury rehabilitation, shared his views on India’s performance in England in a chat with this newspaper.
Ishant Sharma’s ankle injury has hurt India in the ongoing Test. You have had injury troubles. Have injuries been the bane of Indian cricket?
I wish I knew how not to get injured. I hope Ishant’s injury is not so serious as he still has a big role to play. I have had fair share of injuries in my career. It is frustrating. You can do everything right, do everything that needs to be done, but still get injured. At most times injuries
happen when you put in a lot of effort.
Ishant had to be coaxed to use the short ball in the Lord’s Test and it proved rich dividends. Don’t you feel the Indian bowlers have been reluctant to bowl bouncers?
Someone like Ishant has to bowl the bouncer. He is 6" 4 and can pitch in short and get a lot of purchase. The tall Indian bowlers should bowl bouncers more frequently.
What are your predictions for the ongoing series?
We as a team are doing well. It is about the confidence of the team and India are 1-0 up so we need to look at the positives. It is not common that you see a five-match Test series taking place. I think it is happening after 15 years. In my career, I played in just one such series. It is important that we keep doing well and maintain our lead.
What was the thought process behind setting up this centre?
For the past three years, I have had discussions with Adrian Le Roux (former fitness trainer of Indian team) and Andrew Leipus (former physiotherapist) and wanted to set up something like this so that our people can benefit.
Adrian has some brilliant programmes not only for athletes but also for corporate and school kids to maximise their potential. Injuries and niggles can be looked after under one roof and that is why we have Andrew.
Glance through some pictures of Zaheer Khan at the Pro-Sport launch-
( Source : dc )
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