Fitness has been Zaheer Khan's tormentor-in-chief in recent times, as the clock winds down on his successful India career.
It was a minor miracle that the left-arm pace spearhead lasted all four Tests in Australia before playing intermittently during the following ODI tri-series and then being rested for the Asia Cup due to a troublesome knee.
Now, with just two days to go for Royal Challengers Bangalore's first match of the Indian Premier League season against Delhi Daredevils here, Zaheer says he is fit and raring to go. "I am slowly building up to full fitness. It's been a good time off, where I could work on whatever niggles I had, and I am looking forward to the grind of the IPL season. I am ready to play," Zaheer told reporters during a practice session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.
"I have just started bowling a week back, so I am taking it slowly. It's a long tournament, so I don't want to rush things, and am consulting the physio. It's a 20-over game so I can manage myself pretty well."
The Royal Challengers have been among the top sides, barring in the first season of the IPL, and Zaheer believes that in addition to a fearsome batting line-up featuring Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, the bowlers too will play a role in making them successful again.
"We have been consistent over the last few years, and now Vinay Kumar's return (to RCB via the auction) has lent strength to our bowling. We are quite hopeful that this season too, we will be successful," Zaheer said.
"Vinay is a much-improved bowler, and he's definitely going to lift our bowling a few notches. We also have quite a few younger players, and hopefully, I'll get to spend plenty of time with them and pass on my knowledge."
Asked about the IPL governing council's diktat to make batsman-friendly wickets, Zaheer said: "Well, the last game (Chennai vs Mumbai) didn't seem to go that way, did it? It doesn't matter, because both teams play on the same wicket. It's more about how you handle pressure."
In a format dominated by batsmen, Zaheer said the bowlers weren't mere supporting actors. "It's a contest between bat and ball; the bowlers too play a crucial role. A lot of things go the batter's way, with the kind of format it is, and the wickets we play on, it becomes more difficult for a bowler. But bowlers need to take that as a challenge."
His own strategy would be to not over-complicate matters in his own bowling. "I like to keep things simple, in any format. It's when you pick wickets that you restrict opposition from making big runs. As a bowler, that's what my lookout will be, at any stage of the game," he said.
It was a minor miracle that the left-arm pace spearhead lasted all four Tests in Australia before playing intermittently during the following ODI tri-series and then being rested for the Asia Cup due to a troublesome knee.
Now, with just two days to go for Royal Challengers Bangalore's first match of the Indian Premier League season against Delhi Daredevils here, Zaheer says he is fit and raring to go. "I am slowly building up to full fitness. It's been a good time off, where I could work on whatever niggles I had, and I am looking forward to the grind of the IPL season. I am ready to play," Zaheer told reporters during a practice session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.
"I have just started bowling a week back, so I am taking it slowly. It's a long tournament, so I don't want to rush things, and am consulting the physio. It's a 20-over game so I can manage myself pretty well."
The Royal Challengers have been among the top sides, barring in the first season of the IPL, and Zaheer believes that in addition to a fearsome batting line-up featuring Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, the bowlers too will play a role in making them successful again.
"We have been consistent over the last few years, and now Vinay Kumar's return (to RCB via the auction) has lent strength to our bowling. We are quite hopeful that this season too, we will be successful," Zaheer said.
"Vinay is a much-improved bowler, and he's definitely going to lift our bowling a few notches. We also have quite a few younger players, and hopefully, I'll get to spend plenty of time with them and pass on my knowledge."
Asked about the IPL governing council's diktat to make batsman-friendly wickets, Zaheer said: "Well, the last game (Chennai vs Mumbai) didn't seem to go that way, did it? It doesn't matter, because both teams play on the same wicket. It's more about how you handle pressure."
In a format dominated by batsmen, Zaheer said the bowlers weren't mere supporting actors. "It's a contest between bat and ball; the bowlers too play a crucial role. A lot of things go the batter's way, with the kind of format it is, and the wickets we play on, it becomes more difficult for a bowler. But bowlers need to take that as a challenge."
His own strategy would be to not over-complicate matters in his own bowling. "I like to keep things simple, in any format. It's when you pick wickets that you restrict opposition from making big runs. As a bowler, that's what my lookout will be, at any stage of the game," he said.
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