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

5. Pressure of expectations

This is something that can tie down the best of sportsmen. David Beckham has buckled under it, the great Brazilian Ronaldo found the pressure too much to cope with during the 1998 World Cup, and Zaheer’s opponents, the South Africans are way too familiar with choking under pressure.

Being by far the most experienced bowler in this team, and someone with prior tours to South Africa under his belt, there is massive pressure on Zaheer to deliver. Also, several ex-players have barked out loud for his return, and the failure of India’s younger crop of seamers seems to have thrown the mantle back at Zaheer.

Can Zaheer Khan cope with the expectation of being India’s only world class seamer? It is something he has done with aplomb in the past, and something India will be hoping he repeats in the two Tests in the Rainbow Nation.