Dubai: Zaheer Khan, India's pace lynchpin for years, has recovered from his injuries and is raring to go again. After an intense six-week training programme in France, he has returned fitter and stronger.
Speaking to Gulf News exclusively during a personal visit, ‘Zaks’, as he is popularly known among his teammates, said: “I was in France recently for my first phase of training. During the six-week training there, I have achieved my targets in terms of conditioning. Now, I am all set to start my second phase of training which will be focused around skills."
Khan, who is just five wickets short of the 300 Test-wicket mark, added: “I lost seven kgs in six weeks.
"That was my post-Indian Premier League (IPL) plan. I had some time off and I thought that I will use that window wisely and focus more around my fitness.
"I wanted to first lift my physical fitness and body into top condition and then get into skill work.
"For the last 13 years ever since I have been part of the Indian team, it has been hectic and to get this kind of window in terms of time was not available.
"Instead of opting to play in English County, I thought I will focus more on fitness and then get back to the skills area."
Asked if milestones play on his mind, Khan, who is also just 18 wickets short of the 300-wicket mark in One Day Internationals, said: “So far in my career, injuries have been playing a big role so I have never looked at milestones.
"My focus has always been to contribute to team’s success. You may cross milestones in the process but for me, the most important thing is to give my best and contribute to the team’s success.”
At 34 years, does the age factor haunt him? “I still enjoy playing and getting on to the field with all the pressure and expectations of performance," he said.
"Helping India win is the biggest high for me as a sportsperson. I am working towards it again. I want to get really fit and strong starting with the domestic season coming up now.”
Khan does not blame his injuries on excess cricket or on bowling on unhelpful Indian wickets.
“Injuries are part and parcel of the game," he said. "It happens for most cricketers.
"Any athlete with long careers will have to face injury challenges and one has to work around it.
"You have to take these injuries on your stride and analyse the situation. You need to be patient, particularly when you get injured.
"No athlete will ever want to stay away from the game for long time and sometimes in that desperation you may hurry things up.
"I have learned from my experiences that one has to be really patient and follow the advice of your physiotherapist and trainers.
"Key to all these are to get 100 per cent fit and then start playing.”
During a long and illustrious career, Khan has experimented with his bowling a great deal.
“In 2004, Dennis Lillee advised me to shorten my run-up but I could shorten my run up only in 2006 when I played county cricket,” he said.
Finally, what is his advice to youngsters? “To achieve whatever in life you’ve got to have belief in yourself and in your abilities. Everytime you face a setback, you must have belief in your abilities and bounce back.”
Khan is on his way to do it again.
