Ganguly praises Zaheer
Zaheer Khan is back to his best and the left-arm paceman has a "very, very good chance" of playing in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
Zaheer Khan is back to his best and the left-arm paceman has a "very, very good chance" of playing in the upcoming Test series against Australia, skipper Sourav Ganguly said on Wednesday.
"He (Zaheer) is back to where he was. He is back to his best. He is looking fit, running in and bowling in great areas. He has definitely a very, very good chance of playing in this series," Ganguly told reporters.
Zaheer had proved his fitness and form with a three-wicket haul in the recent Irani Cup.
He was also the pick of the India Senior bowlers in the ongoing practice match against India A, taking three wickets in the first innings and securing the lone wicket that fell in India A's second innings on the second day.
Ganguly also said Virender Sehwag's form with the bat was a matter of worry.
"It's a worry. He (Sehwag) is a match-winner. In the last series in Pakistan, he was man-of-the-series. He scored a triple hundred and got more than 90 in Lahore. He is such a key member of the side."
Ganguly made 65 against India A in the four-day practice match on Wednesday and when asked about his own form, said, "I am hitting the ball well. I should have gone on to make 100 because I was set."
"But it was a practice match. I hit the bat well during whatever time I spent in the middle."
Ganguly welcomed the news that Sachin Tendulkar, out of action because of a tennis elbow, could play the first Test against Australia commencing on October 6.
"He (Tendulkar) is not ruled out, we know that. It's good. As I said before, even if he makes himself available the day before the Test match, he picks himself," the captain reiterated.
Meanwhile, paceman Ashish Nehra hurt his ankle during practice after the first day's play in the India Seniors versus India A four-day warm up game on Tuesday.
"Nothing serious. He should be okay to bowl in the second innings," Ganguly added.
