South Africa v India Tests 2013: 5 reasons why it's wrong to expect miracles from Zaheer Khan

4. Erratic bowling partners

In all likelihood, Zaheer will be accompanied by Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma in the first Test. Shami has enjoyed a great start to his Test career, but that was against a mediocre West Indies team. This will be a bigger test, and as we saw in the 3rd ODI, Shami tends to buckle under pressure.

Ishant Sharma has never become the bowler he was touted to become after the Australia tour in 2007-08. Also, Ravichandran Ashwin, as good as he has been in India, has failed to replicate that form in the Tests that he has played overseas.

With such an inconsistent line-up for bowlers giving him company, there could be way too much pressure on Zaheer to deliver.