5 Indian cricketers who could be India's next bowling coach

#1 Zaheer Khan

Khan retired from international cricket in 2015

Arguably the front-runner for the position, Zaheer Khan’s immense knowledge and experience is one of the main reasons as to why the left-arm pacer is the most suitable candidate for the job. Right through his career, the pacer banked on his proficiency in swinging the new ball both ways, coupled with exceptional reverse swing with the old ball.

An Arjuna Awardee, Zaheer’s nagging off-stump line and swing suited his style of bowling particularly well added to toe-crushing, inswinging yorkers. In his international career that spanned 14 years, the pacer's value in the Indian bowling setup was almost second to none.

However, Zaheer’s career was curtailed by injuries and the emergence of bowling talent from domestic cricket, which saw him lose his place in 2005 but a stint with English county club Worcestershire saw the pacer get back to his prime form. An impressive 10-wicket haul against Somerset on debut followed by a 9-wicket innings haul meant the pacer was back amongst national reckoning in 2006.

From 2006, Zaheer’s story was different. The new leader of India’s pace attack, the former Mumbai player performed wherever he step foot and was instrumental in many famous Indian victories. Lethal with the new ball and crafty with the old ball, he was a major contributor to India’s 2011 World Cup victory with 21 wickets in 9 games and India’s numero uno position in Tests for a long time.

A long-serving Ranji player first for Baroda and then for Mumbai, Zaheer announced his retirement from all forms of the game on 15^th October 2015 but went on to play for the Delhi Daredevils in IPL 9 as a player cum-mentor. A wealth of experience and a major recommendation from head coach Anil Kumble might just see Zaheer Khan donning the role soon enough.