View source for Zaheer Khan

{{Short description|Indian cricketer}}
{{for-multi|the Afghan cricketer|Zahir Khan (Afghan cricketer)|the Pakistani cricketer|Zaheer Khan (Pakistani cricketer)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Zaheer Khan
| image=Zaheer Khan at the CPAA show 2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Zaheer in 2018
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|10|8|df=yes}} <ref name="r589">{{cite web | last=Sen | first=Rohan | title=Zaheer Khan birthday wishes poured in a day early: Sachin Tendulkar points out mistake | website=India Today | date=8 October 2020 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/sachin-tendulkar-reveals-zaheer-khan-actual-birth-date-1729661-2020-10-08 | access-date=16 March 2025}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Shrirampur]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| nickname = Zak, Zippy, Zakky<ref name="espncricinfo">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/cricinfomagazine/content/story/255645.html|work=ESPNcricinfo Magazine|title=Zak plays patience |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Left-arm fast-medium
| role = [[Bowler (cricket)|Bowler]]
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2000–2014
| country = India
| testcap = 231
| testdebutagainst = Bangladesh
| testdebutdate = 10 November
| testdebutyear = 2000
| lasttestagainst = New Zealand
| lasttestdate = 14 February
| lasttestyear = 2014
| odicap = 133
| odidebutagainst = Kenya
| odidebutdate = 3 October
| odidebutyear = 2000
| lastodiagainst = Sri Lanka
| lastodidate = 4 August
| lastodiyear = 2012
| odishirt = 34
| T20Icap = 5
| T20Idebutagainst = South Africa
| T20Idebutdate = 1 December
| T20Idebutyear = 2006
| lastT20Iagainst = South Africa
| lastT20Idate = 2 October
| lastT20Iyear = 2012
| club1 = [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|1999–2006}}
| club2 = [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]
| year2 = 2004
| club3 = [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]]
| year3 = 2006
| club4 = [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]]
| year4 = 2006–2014
| club5 = [[Royal Challengers Bangalore]]
| year5 = 2008, 2011–2013
| club6 = [[Mumbai Indians]]
| year6 = 2009–2010, 2014
| club7 = [[Delhi Daredevils]]
| year7 = 2015–2017

| columns = 4
|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 92
|               runs1 = 1,231
|            bat avg1 = 11.94
|           100s/50s1 = 0/3
|          top score1 = 75
|         deliveries1 = 18,785
|            wickets1 = 311
|           bowl avg1 = 32.95
|            fivefor1 = 11
|             tenfor1 = 1
|       best bowling1 = 7/87
|  catches/stumpings1 = 19/–
|             column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|            matches2 = 200
|               runs2 = 792
|            bat avg2 = 12.00
|           100s/50s2 = 0/0
|          top score2 = 34[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries2 = 10,097
|            wickets2 = 282
|           bowl avg2 = 29.44
|            fivefor2 = 1
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 5/42
|  catches/stumpings2 = 43/–
|             column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches3 = 169
|               runs3 = 2,489
|            bat avg3 = 13.60	
|           100s/50s3 = 0/5
|          top score3 = 75
|         deliveries3 = 34,279
|            wickets3 = 672
|           bowl avg3 = 27.97
|            fivefor3 = 35
|             tenfor3 = 8
|       best bowling3 = 9/138
|  catches/stumpings3 = 46/–
|             column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches4 = 253
|               runs4 = 1047
|            bat avg4 = 12.17
|           100s/50s4 = 0/0
|          top score4 = 43
|         deliveries4 = 12,745
|            wickets4 = 357
|           bowl avg4 = 29.07
|            fivefor4 = 1
|             tenfor4 = 0
|       best bowling4 = 5/42
|  catches/stumpings4 = 57/–
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/30102.html ESPNcricinfo
| date = 25 December 2016
|medaltemplates={{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{cr|IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Cricket World Cup|ICC Cricket World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2011 Cricket World Cup|2011 India-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2003 Cricket World Cup|2003 South Africa-Zimbabwe-Kenya]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Champions Trophy]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2002 ICC Champions Trophy|2002 Sri Lanka]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2000 ICC Champions Trophy|2000 Kenya]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asia Cup|ACC Asia Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2010 Asia Cup|2010 Sri Lanka]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2004 Asia Cup|2004 Sri Lanka]]|}}|height=6 ft<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tushar Deshpande: the fast bowler who was told he couldn't be one|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/tushar-deshpande-my-aim-is-to-pick-up-100-wickets-in-tests-for-india-1450094|first=Nagraj|last=Gollapudi
|website=ESPNcricinfo |date=9 September 2024|quote=(...) Zaheer Khan - all around six feet. You are just about 5' 10" (...)|access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref>|full_name=Zaheer Bakhtiyar Khan|family=[[Sagarika Ghatge]] (m. 2017)}}
'''Zaheer Khan''' (born 8 October 1978)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-08 |title=Zaheer Khan birthday wishes poured in a day early: Sachin Tendulkar points out mistake |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/sachin-tendulkar-reveals-zaheer-khan-actual-birth-date-1729661-2020-10-08 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=India Today |language=en}} (''Zaheer's official records say he was born in Shrirampur, Maharashtra on October 7. But as it turns out, his actual birth date is October 8, 1978'')</ref> is an Indian former professional [[cricket]]er who played all formats of the game for the [[Indian national cricket team|Indian national team]] from 2000 till 2014. A left-arm [[fast-medium]] bowler known for his ability to "move the ball both ways off the wicket and swing the old ball at some pace",<ref name="cricinfo">{{cite web |last=Premachandran |first=Dileep |title=Zaheer Khan |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/30102.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115163114/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/30102.html |archive-date=15 November 2007 |access-date=14 February 2007 |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> he was known for [[reverse swing]] with the old ball.<ref>{{cite web |title=clean bowled by reverse swing by zaheer khan |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB8vsiWqcGg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630072056/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB8vsiWqcGg |archive-date=2014-06-30 |access-date=9 February 2014 |via=[[YouTube]] ([[Australian cricket team in India in 2010–11|Australia tour of India 2010/11]], 13 Oct)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2nd Test India v Australia at Bangalore, Oct 9–13, 2010 Cricket Scorecard |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/engine/match/464527.html |access-date=9 February 2014 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He is the second-most successful Indian [[Fast bowling|pace]] bowler (tied with [[Ishant Sharma]]) in [[Test cricket]], behind [[Kapil Dev]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian bowlers with most number of Test wickets |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/team/bowling-most-wickets-career/india-6/test-matches-1 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

He also has the distinct record of dismissing [[Graeme Smith]], [[Kumar Sangakkara]], [[Sanath Jayasuriya]] and [[Matthew Hayden]] – some of the game's most feared left-handed batsmen – over 10 times each in international cricket, and also holds the record for dismissing the third-most number of left-handed batsmen (237), after [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] (325), and [[Shaun Pollock]] (252).

Khan started his domestic career by playing for [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]]. In Tests, he was averaged around 36 at home and 31 away from home. With India, he was a member of the team that was one of the joint-winners of the [[2002 ICC Champions Trophy]], and one of the key members of the [[2011 Cricket World Cup|2011 World Cup]] winning team, leading the pace attack with 21 wickets in just 9 games. In 2011 he was conferred with the [[Arjuna Award]], India's second highest sporting honour, by the [[President of India]]. 

During the course of his career, Khan sustained recurring injuries, which often interrupted his progress at the international level, and this was the reason he set up [[ProSport Fitness & Services]], a special rehabilitation & training center in association with Adrian Le Roux and [[Andrew Leipus]]. 

Khan was selected as one of the [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year]] in the year 2008. He announced his retirement from international cricket in October 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/344697.html|title=Zaheer Khan|date=9 April 2008|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He played for [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]] in County Cricket and played for [[Royal Challengers Bangalore]], [[Delhi Daredevils]] and [[Mumbai Indians]] in the [[Indian Premier League]]. In 2020, the [[Government of India]] honoured him with the [[Padma Shri]]. He was the former mentor of the IPL team [[Lucknow Super Giants]] for the 2025 edition.

==Early and personal life ==
[[File:Sagarika Ghatge and Zaheer Khan at the CPAA show.jpg|thumbnail|Zaheer Khan with his wife [[Sagarika Ghatge]]]]
Khan was born on 8 October 1978 in [[Shrirampur]], [[Ahmednagar district]], [[Maharashtra]], in a [[Marathi Muslims|Marathi Muslim]] family to Zakia and Bakhtiyar Khan.<ref name=":0" /> He has an elder brother, Zeeshan and a younger brother, Anees. He started his coaching under Utsav Yadav, and attended the New Marathi Primary School and the K.J. Somaiyya Secondary School in Shrirampur. He also played in the local Revenue Colony Cricket Club (RCC) in Shrirampur after which he started his career in [[Pune]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/344697.html|title = Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2008 Zaheer Khan| work=Cricinfo | date=9 April 2008 |access-date = 1 December 2013}}</ref>

On 24 April 2017, he announced on his Twitter account that he was engaged to actress [[Sagarika Ghatge]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ipl-2017-10/zaheer-khan-announces-engagement-with-actress-sagarika-ghatge-4626646/|title = Zaheer Khan announces engagement with actress Sagarika Ghatge| date=24 April 2017 |access-date = 24 April 2017}}</ref> The couple got married on 23 November 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sonali|first=Kriti|title=Sagarika Ghatge marries Zaheer Khan, see photos of the newlyweds and wedding card|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/zaheer-khan-sagarika-ghatge-ties-the-knot-see-first-photos-all-wedding-updates-4950683/|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=23 November 2017|access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref> The couple have a son, who was born in 2025.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 April 2025 |title=Sagarika Ghatge and Zaheer Khan welcome first child, the couple names the baby boy Fatehsinh Khan |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/sagarika-ghatge-zaheer-khan-welcome-first-child-couple-names-baby-boy-fatehsinh-khan/ |work=Bollywood  Hungama|access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>

== Domestic career ==
Khan came to [[Mumbai]] in 1996 and joined the National Cricket Club that played in Division A in the city. He played in competitions such as the [[Kanga Cricket League]], Comrade Shield and the Purshottam Shield with the team. Sandeep Mahadkar, Khan's captain during the time, recalled the latter's ability with the ball with an instance where he [[Swing bowling|reverse swung]] a ball that had been bowled 50 overs with, bowling ten maiden overs and helping his team win a Comrade Shield game. His ability with the bat was recalled by another former teammate with who Khan put together a 102-run stand for ninth wicket making an [[Not out|unbeaten]] 62 runs taking his team home.<ref name="HT1">{{cite web |last1=Samyal |first1=Sanjjeev K. |title=Mentors recall Zaheer's Mumbai entry |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/mentors-recall-zaheer-s-mumbai-entry/story-jkTzG1mOhoFYHRD5EhxpuK.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=18 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193054/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/mentors-recall-zaheer-s-mumbai-entry/story-jkTzG1mOhoFYHRD5EhxpuK.html |archive-date=15 October 2015 |language=en |date=16 October 2015}}</ref> His "jaw-dropping spells in the Purshottam Shield" culminated with the 7/74 performance against Shivaji Park Gymkhana in January 1997.<ref name="CC1">{{cite web |last1=Bhattacharyya |first1=Wriddhaayan |title=Zaheer Khan: A born fighter who is gunning to get his India spot back |url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/zaheer-khan-a-born-fighter-who-is-gunning-to-get-his-india-spot-back-30545 |website=Cricket Country |access-date=18 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423081924/https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/zaheer-khan-a-born-fighter-who-is-gunning-to-get-his-india-spot-back-30545 |archive-date=23 April 2015 |language=en-us |date=2 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Zaheer sends SPG crashing |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19970118/01850283.html |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=18 January 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970422034747/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19970118/01850283.html |archive-date=22 April 1997}}</ref> he was later sent to the [[MRF Pace Foundation]] in [[Chennai]] by Sudhir Naik, owner of the National Cricket Club.<ref name="HT1"/> Impressed by his talent, the bowling coach there, [[T. A. Sekhar]], pushed Khan to play for [[Baroda cricket team|Baroda]].<ref name="CC1"/>

Khan quickly made his name playing for Baroda in the [[First-class cricket|first-class]] level. In the final of the [[2000–01 Ranji Trophy|2000–01 season]] of the [[Ranji Trophy]] against [[Railways cricket team|Railways]], Khan received the [[Player of the Match awards (cricket)|man of the match award]] after he returned figures of 8/145 for the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings (5/16),<ref>{{cite news |last1=S. |first1=Santosh |title=Zaheer Khan bowls Baroda to Ranji Trophy glory |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/95486.html |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=23 April 2001 |language=en}}</ref> helping his team lift the trophy for the fifth time and a first in 43 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baroda wins Ranji trophy |url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2001/apr/23ranji.htm |access-date=18 October 2018 |work=Rediff.com |date=23 April 2001}}</ref>

Khan transferred to [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]] at the start of the [[2006–07 Indian cricket season]] his debut for Mumbai until the final of the [[Ranji Trophy]] in which he took 9 wickets as Mumbai defeated [[Bengal cricket team|Bengal]].

In 2005 Khan, signed for [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club]] in England as one of their two overseas players, replacing [[Shoaib Akhtar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/244171.html |title=Worcestershire preview, 2006: Strong squad eyeing promotion |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |first=Paul |last=Bolton |date=14 April 2006 |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> Although Worcestershire went on to lose the match, Zaheer took ten wickets against [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]] on debut;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/countycricket/content/story/245561.html |title=Mushtaq powers Sussex to victory |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=28 April 2006 |access-date=25 July 2011}}</ref> in doing so he became the first Worcestershire player to take 10 wickets on debut for over 100 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Westerby |first1=John |title=Caddick devours easy pickings |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWGLNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1114CE249C47D288 |access-date=9 April 2024 |work=The Times |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription |date=29 April 2006}}</ref> In June he took the first nine wickets to fall in the first innings against [[Essex County Cricket Club|Essex]], ending with 9–138; had wicket-keeper [[Steven Davies]] not dropped a catch offered by last man [[Darren Gough]] he would have become the first bowler ever to take all ten for the county.

Khan has played the [[Royal Challengers]] as well as [[Mumbai Indians]] before he was picked for the [[Delhi Daredevils]] in the [[IPL 2015 auction|2015 auction]]. He has captained the Daredevils in 2016 and 2017. In 2017 season, Zaheer became the 10th bowler in the history and 8th Indian bowler, to pick 100 wickets in Indian Premier League. At the age of 38, he is the oldest player to achieve this feat.

==International career==
Zaheer was selected in 2000 for the first intake of the [[National Cricket Academy]] in [[Bangalore]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Partab |last=Ramchand |title=First list of trainees |url=http://feedsuk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2000/APR/029816_CI_15APR2000.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=15 April 2000 |access-date=8 February 2007 |archive-date=9 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709221110/http://feedsuk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2000/APR/029816_CI_15APR2000.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made his Test debut against [[Bangladesh cricket team|Bangladesh]] and ODI debut against [[Kenya cricket team|Kenya]] during the 2000 [[ICC KnockOut Trophy]] in the same year.<ref name="cricinfo" />

===Struggling form===
In late 2005 pacemen [[Sreesanth]] and [[R. P. Singh]] made their international debuts and became regular members of the Indian team making it difficult for Zaheer to retain his position in the playing eleven. The [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] demoted Zaheer from a B-grade to a C-grade contract at the end of the year. He returned for the 2005 tour of Pakistan, where India fielded three left arm pacemen and had difficulty dismissing Pakistan with a lack of variety in the bowling attack.

===Recall to team===
Late in 2006, Zaheer was recalled to the Test and ODI team for the tour of South Africa, following [[Irfan Pathan]]'s slump in form and an injury to [[Munaf Patel]]. After consistent performances on tour, his performance in early 2007 in home ODIs against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, including a career best 5/42, saw him named in the squad for the [[2007 Cricket World Cup|2007 World Cup]].

He won the Man of the Match award in the first Test between India and Australia in the [[Australian cricket team in India in 2008–09|2008–2009 series]] in India for his all round performance with the bat and the ball.

===ODI career===
He has taken 282 ODI wickets at an average of just over 29 runs per wicket taking 4 wickets in a match 6 times (4 times against [[Zimbabwe]]) including 32 wickets against Zimbabwe at an average of 17.46 runs per dismissal. He, along with other seamers like [[Javagal Srinath]] and [[Ashish Nehra]] helped India to make it to the finals of the [[2003 Cricket World Cup|2003 World Cup]]. Zaheer finished the tournament as fourth highest wicket-taker&nbsp;– 18 wickets from 11 matches at an average of 20 runs per wicket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC2003/STATS/WC2003_ODI_BOWL_MOST_WKTS.html |title=ICC Cricket World Cup, 2002/03 Bowling&nbsp;– Most Wickets |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=17 June 2008 |access-date=20 December 2010}}</ref> He is also the fourth highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India with 282 scalps behind [[Anil Kumble]] (337), [[Javagal Srinath]] (315) and [[Ajit Agarkar]] (288).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=4857;type=tournament |title=ICC Cricket World Cup, 2010/11 / Records / Most wickets |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>

===Test career===
Zaheer has taken 311 Test wickets at an average of just over 32 runs per wicket. South African star all-rounder [[Jacques Kallis]] was Zaheer's 300th test wicket. In 16 matches from the beginning of the tour of West Indies in April 2002 to the end of the 1st match against Australia in December 2003, [[Brisbane]], Zaheer took 54 wickets from 16 matches at an average of 30 runs. It all turned downhill after the first Test against Australia in Brisbane in December 2003. Having taken 5 of the top 7 Australian batsmen in the first innings (5 for 95), he injured himself in the second during the opening spell. After missing the second Test he returned for the third, but was injured midway through the match and was forced to return home. The injury kept him from the early 2004 tour of Pakistan, India's first Test series victory in the country.

Earlier, Zaheer held the world record for the highest Test score by a number 11 when he scored 75 against [[Bangladeshi national cricket team|Bangladesh]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282860.html |title=Records / Test matches / Batting records / Most runs in an innings (by batting position) |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> At the time he was batting with [[Sachin Tendulkar]]; the pair amassed 133&nbsp;runs, a new record for India's tenth-wicket.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?class=1;id=6;type=team |title=Records / India / Test matches / Highest partnerships by wicket |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> This record was broken by [[Tino Best]] of the [[West Indies]] in 2012. The current record holder is [[Ashton Agar]] of the [[Australia]] on his debut match in 2013.

===Knuckle Ball===
In international cricket, Zaheer Khan was the first bowler to bowl knuckle ball. Zaheer Khan introduced the knuckle ball way back in 2011 world cup. He used that ball for great effect. He used that ball to get crucial wickets at crucial times like the wickets of [[Ian Bell]] and [[Paul Collingwood]] against England and the wicket of [[Devon Smith]] against the West Indies and the wicket of [[Michael Hussey]] in the Quarter Final against Australia.

In an interview he said : "The whole 2011 World Cup, I was looking forward to it, especially playing in front of the home crowd – even if it added that extra bit of pressure. I was preparing a new delivery that I wanted to use, which was the knuckle ball. I was working on it for a year leading up to the tournament. Even though I had perfected it, I was purposely not using it in any of the matches [before the tournament]. It got me a lot of success. When a plan like that works, it gives you extra satisfaction."

===World Cup===
Zaheer has 44 World Cup wickets, spanning from 2003 to 2011, putting him in ninth place behind [[Glenn McGrath]] (71), [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] (68), [[Mitchell Starc]](65), [[Lasith Malinga]] (56), [[Wasim Akram]] (55), [[Trent Boult]](53) and [[Chaminda Vaas]] (49) on the list of highest number of wickets by a bowler in the marquee event. He is tied with Srinath in ninth but Srinath has played 34 games as opposed to Zaheer's 23.

Zaheer, who was one of India's trump cards during their World Cup triumph in 2011, finished as the joint highest wicket-taker along with [[Shahid Afridi]] with 21 scalps.

===Later career===
July 2011 India embarked on a [[Indian cricket team in England in 2011|tour of England]]. Having bowled 13.3 overs, Zaheer strained his hamstring and suffered an ankle injury in the first Test of the four-match series and as a result was ruled out of the rest of the tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14435528.stm |title=India bowler Zaheer Khan out of England Test series |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=7 August 2011 |access-date=9 August 2011}}</ref> Zaheer came back in December and played a test match [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2011–12|against Australia]] on Boxing day. He took two wickets in two consecutive deliveries, dismissing [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] for 31 and [[Mike Hussey]] for a duck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/518950.html|title=1st Test Australia v India at Melbourne, Dec 26–29, 2011-Scorecard|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref> In the second test at Sydney, he took three wickets of the four to fall, Clarke scoring 329*; his were the best figures in both these innings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/518951.html|title=2nd Test Australia v India at Sydney, Jan 3–6, 2012-Scorecard|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref> {{as of|February 2014}} Zaheer Khan is ranked 22 in the [[ICC Player Rankings]] for Test bowlers. He [[Indian cricket team in South Africa in 2013–14|toured South Africa]] in December 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-07/top-stories/33082373_1_ratings-points-icc-test-12th-spot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222337/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-07/top-stories/33082373_1_ratings-points-icc-test-12th-spot|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Tendulkar, Zaheer placed at 17th spot in ICC Test rankings |access-date=7 August 2012}}</ref> and [[Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 2013–14|New Zealand in 2014]].

===Retirement===
Zaheer Khan announced his retirement from international and first-class cricket on 15 October 2015 in a tweet saying "I bid adieu to my career in international cricket. I look forward to signing off with IPL 9."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/928979.html |title=Zaheer Khan announces international retirement |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=15 October 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
Zaheer was announced as bowling coach for the [[India national cricket team]] in 2017, but was instead appointed to a bowling consultant role by the new Indian head coach [[Ravi Shastri]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shastri, Zaheer, Dravid in India's new coaching team |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=11 July 2017 |access-date=19 September 2025 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/shastri-zaheer-dravid-in-india-s-new-coaching-team-1110473 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ravi-shastri-wants-bharat-arun-as-bowling-coach-prefers-zaheer-khan-as-consultant/articleshow/59575228.cms|title=Ravi Shastri wants Bharat Arun as bowling coach, prefers Zaheer Khan as consultant |work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2017-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BCCI does u-turn on Dravid, Zaheer appointments |author=Sidharth Monga |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=15 July 2017 |access-date=19 September 2025 |url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/bcci-does-u-turn-on-rahul-dravid-zaheer-khan-appointments-1111242 }}</ref> He became Director of Cricket for [[Mumbai Indians]] in 2018 and was promoted to Global Head of Cricket Development in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jayawardene and Zaheer elevated to global roles with Mumbai Indians |author=Nagraj Gollapudi |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=14 September 2022 |access-date=19 September 2025 |url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mahela-jayawardene-appointed-mumbai-indians-teams-global-head-of-performance-1334494}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mumbai Indians appoints a central team for its growing global cricket footprint |work=[[Mumbai Indians]] |date=14 September 2022 |access-date=19 September 2025 |url= https://www.mumbaiindians.com/news/mumbai-indians-appoints-a-central-team-for-its-growing-global-cricket-footprint}}</ref> He was team mentor for [[Lucknow Super Giants]] from August 2024 to September 2025, with responsibilities including direction of team scouting and strategy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zaheer Khan in talks with LSG to take over as mentor |author=Shashank Kishore |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=21 August 2024 |access-date=19 September 2025 |url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2025-zaheer-khan-in-talks-with-lucknow-super-giants-lsg-to-take-over-as-mentor-1448217 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mentor Zaheer Khan parts ways with Lucknow Super Giants |author=Nagraj Gollapudi |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=18 September 2025 |access-date=19 September 2025 |url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-zaheer-khan-part-ways-with-lucknow-super-giants-1503508 }}</ref>

==ProSport Fitness & Services==
{{Infobox company
| name = ProSport Fitness and Services
| logo = 
| type = Physical fitness and sports
| foundation = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| founder = Zaheer Khan
| location_city = [[Mumbai]]
| location_country = India
| area_served = 
| key_people = Zaheer Khan, [[Andrew Leipus]], Adrian Le Roux
| industry = [[Physical fitness]]
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| assets = 
| equity = 
| owner = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = 
| divisions = [[Functional training]], strength and conditioning, [[physiotherapy]]
| subsid = 
| homepage = http://prosportfitness.in/
| footnotes = 
}}
In 2014 Khan founded a fitness and sports company ProSport Fitness and Services in [[Mumbai]], that offers fitness training and [[physiotherapy]] services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/zaheer-khan-launches-fitness-company-162943|title=Zaheer Khan launches fitness company|publisher=cricketcountry.com|date=26 July 2014}}</ref> Involving personnel such as [[Andrew Leipus]] and Adrian Le Roux, the center aims to "maximize potential" of people and athletes by personally assisted fitness programs. Khan stated that the objective was to "bring in world class fitness program to India for sports injury management".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBQA8uK3KIs| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/EBQA8uK3KIs| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|title=Zaheer Khan about Pro Sports Fitness centre| website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/leisure/Mirror-fixes-it-Down-but-not-out/articleshow/47659027.cms|title=Down But Not Out|work=Mumbai Mirror|date=14 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111043606/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/leisure/Mirror-fixes-it-Down-but-not-out/articleshow/47659027.cms|archive-date=11 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mansworldindia.com/featured/say-goodbye-to-injuries/|title=Say Goodbye To Injuries|work=[[MW (Indian magazine)|Man's World]]|date=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412194650/https://www.mansworldindia.com/fitness/say-goodbye-to-injuries/|archive-date=12 April 2015}}</ref> It offers scientifically designed programs and treatment while conducting workshops and sessions for corporates and schools to spread awareness of physical fitness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/health-7-things-zaheer-khan-wants-you-to-know/20150315.htm|title=7 things Zaheer Khan wants you to know|work=rediff.com|date=29 May 2015}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=30102}}
*[http://www.royalchallengers.com/zaheer-khan Zaheer Khan IPL Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518064708/http://www.royalchallengers.com/zaheer-khan |date=18 May 2014 }} from [[Royal Challenger Bangalore|RoyalChallengers]]
*{{Twitter}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Zaheer}}
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