Highlights
New Delhi: Former India fast bowling great Zaheer Khan feels the Indian Premier League (IPL) should not be used as a yardstick to select bowlers for the rigours of Test cricket and also One-Day Internationals (ODI) as they require different skills set. (Zaheer Khan Appointed Delhi Daredevils Skipper For Ninth Season of Indian Premier League)
The 37-year-old, who has 311 Test and 282 ODI wickets, made it clear that for Tests, bowlers should be picked according to the conditions and opposition. (Carlos Brathwaite Will Bring Delhi Daredevils’ Fans to Stadium, Says CEO Hemant Dua)
“It has to go format wise. T20 is hugely different from ODI and so is ODI different from Tests. When you judge players in T20s, it should be based only on T20 performances,” said Zaheer, who would be playing his final IPL season for the Delhi Daredevils.
One of the finest exponents of reverse swing, Zaheer said that four overs in T20 is completely different from bowling “18 overs a day” in Test matches.
“In terms of higher level selection, it all depends what kind of series we are playing. If it’s a Test series we have to look at bowlers differently,” said the left-handed pacer.
Ashish Nehra’s performance has been a revelation and Zaheer said that his former new ball partner’s show has motivated him to keep training. However, watching Nehra make an international comeback at 37, Zaheer feels he doesn’t regret his decision to retire.
“I am very happy with my decision and I am sticking to that. I am very happy to see Ashish Nehra do well. In fact, he has motivated me quite a lot to get back to training. I was very clear about walking away from international cricket. I am just happy to play this form of cricket. You kind of give it back while guiding the youngsters. This is something that I enjoy,” said Zaheer.
Daredevils have been the perennial wooden spooners in IPL and the wily seamer said that he knows how to “deliver in right areas but can’t promise anything”.
“I am not going to promise anything. I will focus on the ‘delivery’, just hit the right areas and things should take care of itself,” a smiling Zaheer gave a tongue-in-cheek reply.
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Source: NDTV