Zaheer is crucial to India's attack

With Zaheer Khan out injured, India’s bowling will struggle in the third Test against New Zealand at Nagpur, R Kaushik predicts in the Deccan Herald. Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha have been comprehensively outbowled this calendar year by Zaheer in Test cricket, he says, despite the fact that all India’s Tests have been in the subcontinent.

Daniel Vettori is too much of a gentleman to savour somebody else’s misfortune, but the mental sigh of relief as the announcement was made in his presence that Zaheer would miss the Nagpur game with a groin strain wasn’t hard to imagine. More than Harbhajan and Ojha, Zaheer has loomed as the Kiwis’ biggest threat this series; now, the Kiwis will quietly fancy their chances of a remarkable and unlikely coup at the VCA stadium in Jamtha stemming from the knowledge that their principal tormentor won’t be around.