5 times Zaheer Khan left Indian fans spellbound

Zaheer Khan has called time on his career todayIndia’s best pacer of this generation, Zaheer Khan, has called it quits on his illustrious international career as he has decided to announce his retirement today. The 37-year-old veteran, who has played 92 Test matches, 200 ODIs and 17 T20 Internationals, has been in and out of the team in the last three to four years due to recurrent injuries which a took a toll on his body.His last appearance is going to be in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 9.In 92 Test matches, Zaheer has taken 311 wickets and is the fourth highest wicket-taker in India after Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (417). His ODI haul stands at an equally impressive 282 wickets.Zaheer was instrumental in India's 2011 World Cup triumph with 21 wickets in the tournament. As the pacer decides to bid adieu to international and first-class cricket, here is a look at five times the ‘Zak attack’ awed us:

#1 5/95 versus Australia

In the Test series opener at Brisbane, 2003, Zaheer Khan claimed a five-wicket haul for 95 runs. He dismissed Mathew Hayden with a textbook out-swinger and then surprised Ricky Ponting with a perfect short ball.

He also took the wickets of Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich to demolish the Australian top-order. Khan, however, went on to miss the rest of the series due to an injury.

#2 7/87 versus Bangladesh

By 2010, Zaheer Khan was established as the spearhead of Indian pace attack and his performance against Bangladesh vindicated that. The figures of 7/87 came against a side that may not have been that strong, but that couldn’t take the sheen out of one of his best performance in an innings of a Test match.

#3 4/21 versus Sri Lanka

This spell happened at Dambulla in 2008. In conditions favourable to seam and swing, Zak took full advantage as he grabbed four Sri Lankan wickets while giving away just 21 runs.

Kumar Sangakkara completely missed the line and was clean bowled. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene could not keep up with the pace and offered a catch to the slips, while Kapugedera and Sanath Jayasuriya perished soon after.

India won the game and levelled the five match series 1-1.

#4 Hit four sixes versus Zimbabwe

In the third ODI between India and Zimbabwe at Jodhpur in the year 2000, Zaheer Khan scored a stellar 32 off 11 balls, which included 4 sixes in the final over off the bowling of Henry Olonga.

This cameo knock propelled India’s score to 283 but they still lost the match, going down narrowly by 1 wicket.

#5 5/170 versus New Zealand

On his final outing for India, the second Test at Wellington against New Zealand in February 2014, Zaheer Khan claimed 5 for 170. It was his 11th five-wicket haul in Test Cricket. Even though this came at the end of his career when his pace had dropped, the precision and the line still looked impeccable.