6 Indian legends who bid goodbye this decade 

#5. Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan

From a kid from the small town of Shrirampur in Maharashtra to the leader of India’s pace attack, Zaheer’s story is an inspirational one for sure. India’s greatest left-arm seamer, Zaheer Khan announced his international retirement in October 2015. Making his debut along with Yuvraj Singh at the ICC Knock-out Trophy in 2000, Khan led India’s pace bowling admirably over the next decade. With 311 wickets from 92 Tests at an average of 32.94, he was second only to Kapil Dev among most wickets taken by Indian pacers in the format.

In ODIs, Zaheer picked up 282 wickets in 200 matches at an average of 29.43 apart from 17 scalps in as many T20Is. After claiming 3 for 48 on ODI debut versus Kenya, he famously dismissed Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh in the next game against Australia, paving the way for India’s victory. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker during India’s victorious 2011 World Cup campaign with 21 wickets.

Zaheer also played a prominent role in India’s 2007 Test series win in England. He picked up 18 wickets at an impressive average of 20.33, 9 of them coming at Trent Bridge win that gave India a 0-1 lead. Further, Zaheer was also man of the match for his 8 wickets against Australia at Mohali in 2010. He struggled with injuries in his last few years, and played his last Test against New Zealand at Wellington in February 2014. His last ODI came against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in August 2012.