<p>Indian team manager Anirudh Choudhry confirmed the news in a short press release issued here on Friday.<br /><br />“Zaheer Khan has strained his hamstring during the course of the first day's play of the first Test. He is undergoing treatment which is being administered by the team physio. He may be unavailable to bowl in the first innings, but is likely to be fit to bowl in the second innings,” the release said. <br /><br />Zaheer had to leave the field half-way through the 42nd over of England’s first innings on the opening day of the Test on Thursday when the left-arm paceman immediately started feeling his right leg after completing a delivery. After a brief chat with Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbaikar walked off the field never to return for the remainder of the day’s play. The 32-year-old was the best bowler on scene for India, picking both the wickets to fall on day one.<br /><br />That Zaheer, who did look cheerful when TV cameras panned on him in the dressing room, will not bowl any further in the first innings was clear when he was not seen warming up with his team-mates prior to the start of the match. This is not the first time Zaheer’s injury has left India high and dry at the start of a series. Twice he returned from Australia (2004 and 2008) while he couldn’t play the first Test against South Africa in their last sojourn to the African nation.<br /><br />Anil Kumble came to the fore Down Under in 2004 while Ishant Sharma, RP Singh and Irfan Pathan stood up, powering India to a memorable win at Perth four years later. Will somebody rise to the occasion this time?</p>
<p>Indian team manager Anirudh Choudhry confirmed the news in a short press release issued here on Friday.<br /><br />“Zaheer Khan has strained his hamstring during the course of the first day's play of the first Test. He is undergoing treatment which is being administered by the team physio. He may be unavailable to bowl in the first innings, but is likely to be fit to bowl in the second innings,” the release said. <br /><br />Zaheer had to leave the field half-way through the 42nd over of England’s first innings on the opening day of the Test on Thursday when the left-arm paceman immediately started feeling his right leg after completing a delivery. After a brief chat with Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbaikar walked off the field never to return for the remainder of the day’s play. The 32-year-old was the best bowler on scene for India, picking both the wickets to fall on day one.<br /><br />That Zaheer, who did look cheerful when TV cameras panned on him in the dressing room, will not bowl any further in the first innings was clear when he was not seen warming up with his team-mates prior to the start of the match. This is not the first time Zaheer’s injury has left India high and dry at the start of a series. Twice he returned from Australia (2004 and 2008) while he couldn’t play the first Test against South Africa in their last sojourn to the African nation.<br /><br />Anil Kumble came to the fore Down Under in 2004 while Ishant Sharma, RP Singh and Irfan Pathan stood up, powering India to a memorable win at Perth four years later. Will somebody rise to the occasion this time?</p>
