'Ishant has performed at the most important time'

'Everyone takes their own time to discover themselves, everyone's way of feeling that expression of freedom on the field comes at a different time. The important thing is he is stepping up.'

India star Zaheer Khan assesses Ishant Sharma, Bhuvanesh Kumar and Mohammad Shami's bowling in England so far. Harish Kotian/Rediff.com reports.

"Everyone has been asking Ishant to step up and he has always been keen on doing that. This time, he got the right opportunity to take that responsibility," Zaheer Khan says about his bowling partner who took 7 wickets in the Lord's Test last week and won the game for India.

Zaheer hailed Ishant Sharma's match-winning spell, saying the responsibility of being the senior-most bowler in the Indian team has worked well for the lanky pacer in England.

"He has played the most number of Tests in the bowling unit that we have right now. The added responsibility helped him," Zaheer said in Mumbai on Tuesday, July 29, at the launch of his dream project, ProSport, a fitness and training centre.

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Before the series Zaheer had called on Ishant to lead the attack in England and guide his younger team mates, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

Ishant has a modest Test record of 174 wickets in 57 Tests, at an average of 37, but Zaheer feels the Delhi pacer has the ability to deliver.

"Everyone takes their own time to discover themselves, everyone's way of feeling that expression of freedom on the field comes at a different time. The important thing is he is stepping up. He is running hard on the field and has performed at the most important time."

"For Ishant, it is the ability to keep running in; that is his strength!" Zaheer exclaimed. "That is something which he has done consistently irrespective of how things are going on the field."

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Zaheer felt the young pace duo of Bhuvanesh Kumar and Mohammad Shami have the potential to succeed at the international level.

"For Bhuvi it is his control over swing; that stands out, because he uses the conditions well."

"Shami's strength is his seam positioning. I think it is very important for a fast bowler to have that seam position. So, when the conditions favour you can actually exploit it more and get that extra bounce from the wickets."

"I am very much happy with the way we exploited the conditions in England," Zaheer added. "You have to make sure that you bowl in the right areas and get it up. We did exceptionally in terms of achieving that, especially Bhuvi. He was constantly bowling in that corridor of uncertainty which helped him get wickets."

Zaheer isn't surprised by the nature of wickets in the ongoing series in England, which are on the slower side, and urged the Indian pacers to keep going for wickets instead of playing the waiting game.

"All over the world wickets are going on the slower side. Playing in India you are used to that; you are used to see the ball dying on the way to the wicket-keeper. Rather than focussing on the things that are not happening, you have to focus on things which you can do in those situations and keep thinking wickets. That always works."

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Zaheer, who will turn 36 on October 7, refused to speculate on his comeback, saying his first priority is to complete rehabilitation from the side strain he sustained during the Indian Premier League in May.

The injury forced him to miss the tour of England. During the last tour, in 2011, he suffered a hamstring strain in the first Test at Lord's and was ruled out of the series.

"I have not bowled a single ball (since the IPL)," Zaheer, who has taken 311 wickets in 92 Tests, said. "I have to let things unfold for myself. My bowling rehab -- which is the second phase of my rehab -- will start in the second week of August."

Is he looking to play in the World Cup Down Under next year?

"The way my career has gone, I have never been looking at those things. I have only been looking at how I am feeling right now and whether I am up to the mark in terms of playing at the highest level. That is what is important to me. I set myself high standards and if I match those standards I will come back."

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"I have to match my expectations and see if I am there or not," he says. "I can only see that when I start bowling and get into it and see how things go."

Zaheer, who suffered numerous injuries through his career, says that is why he set up ProSport, along with strength and conditioning professionals Andrew Leipus and Adrian Leroux who have worked with the Indian team.

"It is something linked to cricket as well. I have spent enough time in terms of fitness and injury management which is crucial for any fast bowler or any athlete. The thought of Pro Sport has been there for a long time. Every time you get injured, you end up going abroad for expert advice or for expert help."

"Just recently I went abroad for my fitness regimen. I thought if I can get the experts here I can give people access which will help a lot of guys understand what sports-specific fitness can offer."

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