Retirements Thread - R. Ashwin

[Targaryen]

List of players retired so far.
Virender Sehwag retires
Shoaib Malik retires
Mitchell Johnson retires
Brendon McCullum retires
Shiv Narine Chandrapaul retires
Shane Watson retires
Nathan McCullum retires
Grant Elliot retires
Clint McKay retires
Tillakaratne Dilshan retires
Luke Rochi retires
Jeetan Patel retires
Zaheer Khan retires:

Source: Profile of Zak (Twitter)

Zaheer's Career info - Zaheer Khan announces retirement from international cricket - Cricbuzz

 

[Satan666]

Please don't copy and paste the whole article in future @War , a simple link will do just fine.

Easily the best paceman ever from India, easily the most victimized paceman ever, easily one of the best left arm the world has ever seen, easily one of the most mismanaged paceman ever!

 

[grkrama]

I would rate kapil and srinath as better than Zak, but the best of this batch, class act when he was in rhythm, wish he will pass on his experience and knowledge to youngsters.

 

[Aravind.]

Zak is one of the best pace bowler India have ever had, you will be missed, [HASHTAG]#FarewellZAK[/HASHTAG].

 

[Daniboy95]

Does anyone remember Zaheer Khan's 4 consecutive sixes against Henry Olonga (Zim). Though we lost that match, Zaheer won the hearts of all Indian fans in that match. His injury led him to the break in his career and that break has never given him a chance to make a come back into the national team. One of the best swing bowlers India has got so far.

 

[Aalay]

Probably the main reason behind India's golden run between late 2007 to 2011 WC win. He was a bowler who ran through batting line-up in India and abroad consistently. One of the best exponent of reverse swing bowling I have ever seen and was smart enough to outthink the batsmen even on the most dead pitches of the sub-continent. He didn't have much pace in the later half of his career but got batsmen out purely on his skill and control over his bowling. Best Indian fast bowler I have seen. Hopefully we can get him involved in some way with our bowling line-up because he is just the perfect man to do that job.

 

[greymatter776]

Surely one of the best seam bowler for India in the near past.One thing he said in the previous IPL still persist in my mind.He said that in T20 we need to take every bowl as if it is the very last bowl of a very tight chase.

 

[PokerAce]

The second best seamer India have ever produced !!

 

[War]

Its close between him and Srinath as 2nd best IND quick after Kapil.

 

[AliB]

Does anyone remember Zaheer Khan's 4 consecutive sixes against Henry Olonga (Zim). Though we lost that match, Zaheer won the hearts of all Indian fans in that match. His injury led him to the break in his career and that break has never given him a chance to make a come back into the national team. One of the best swing bowlers India has got so far.

I believe no Indian Cricket fan can ever forget it. [HASHTAG]#ThankYouZak[/HASHTAG]

 

[aditya123]

Its close between him and Srinath as 2nd best IND quick after Kapil.

Zak won more games overseas than Srinath. It would still be a close call though. I rate Zaheer for his ability to get top order batsmen out consistently. A large share of his wickets during his prime were top order wickets. To win as many tests as he did on those dead tracks in India during the 2007-2011 period was sheer magic. Can remember how he turned tests against Australia on dead wickets at Mohali, Nagpur in 2008 and followed that up consistently for the seasons to come. Remember, when India were doing so well in test cricket, we were without a quality spinner. Kumble had retired and Harby has`nt been a force since 2005/6.

Hats off. Statistics would never do justice to Zak. Had he been managed better, he would`ve easily finished with 20-30 more tests are a 100 more wickets. His biggest contribution was against the batsmen who mattered and situations which were tight. He has 44 wickets in WC cricket which is immense as well.

India do not have to look far for a bowling coach. Zak is the man.

 

[SaiSrini]

Zak the man! Have always been having this faintest of fantasies that Zaheer will return back for one last glory run! But knew that his days are behind him.

A lot rate him second or third after Kapil. What I say here might trigger a debate (but it can be good), Zaheer is better than Kapil and to me, the best fast bowler from India! Let me back it up - Zaheer played increasingly at a time when batsmen gained a lot of advantage and the playing field tilted heavily in favor of the batsmen. And yet, Zaheer possessed the ability to rip through the batting and set up wins for India on almost any track. He worked more on the mental aspect of out thinking batsmen and so he was a handful on most tracks. Kapil played at a time when 3-4 runs per over run rates in ODI's were fine and easily defended. Yes, Kapil very easily wins the fitness battle over Zaheer (Kapil lasted longer), but to me, Zaheer's ability to keep India in the hunt even on lifeless tracks makes him the best to me.

He also got the best compliment probably of his life as MS Dhoni has rated him the "most clever bowler he has ever seen" (Source: MSD's Twitter account). If he was a little more fitter, Zaheer would have created more miracles for India. Well done on such a stunning career and hope to see him soon as India's fast bowling coach. He is the guy who needs to take charge of our fast bowlers.

 

[Aravind.]

hope to see him soon as India's fast bowling coach. He is the guy who needs to take charge of our fast bowlers.

^ I echo this.

 

[Pinch hitter]

Thanks ZaK for your contribution in Indian Cricket...

 

[themusketeer]

hope to see him soon as India's fast bowling coach. He is the guy who needs to take charge of our fast bowlers.

I always admired him and surely the best man to fill that place.