Everything was smooth for the Indian team in the build-up to the first Test against South Africa. But Zaheer Khan's hamstring injury has given skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni a headache
Everythingu00a0was smooth for the Indian team in the build-up to the first Test against South Africa. But Zaheer Khan's hamstring injury has given skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni au00a0headache. India's pace spearhead may miss the first Test at Centurion today.
Former India pacer Manoj Prabhakar reckoned India will be in deep trouble if Zaheer does not play. "It's a big problem if Zaheer is not fit. Ishant is not bowling to his potential and S Sreesanth alone cannot control the bowling attack," Prabhakar, who was part of the 1992-93 tour to SA, told MiD DAY yesterday.
The current Delhi Ranji Trophy team coach felt the Indian bowlers would find it difficult to take 20 wickets without Zaheer. "It will be difficult to bowl out the South Africans. Their batsmen will not have any problems in facing us now," he said.
Debut?Saurashtra's Jaidev Unadkat or Vidarbha's Umesh Yadav may get a chance to play their first Test. "I have seen Unadkat bowl, but it all depends on how he handles the pressure. It won't be easy to bowl on SA wickets," said Prabhakar.u00a0u00a0u00a0
However, too much emphasis on pace is taking away the importance of excellent conditions for swing bowling.
Prabhakar, a swing exponent, noted: "South Africa provides lovely conditions for swing bowling. I enjoyed bowling a lot there. But with Zaheer out and only Sreesanth at the other end, we don't have any other good swing bowler."
