Zaheer Khan (born 7 October 1978) is a former Indian cricketer and one of the country’s finest fast bowlers. A left-arm seamer known for swinging the ball both ways and for his mastery of reverse swing, he took 311 Test wickets and 282 ODI wickets. He led India’s attack when they became the top-ranked Test team and won the 2011 World Cup, in which he was the joint highest wicket-taker with 21.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Zaheer Khan |
| Born | 7 October 1978, Shrirampur, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India |
| Age | 48 |
| Role | Left-arm fast-medium bowler |
| International career | 2000–2014 |
| Test record | 311 wickets in 92 matches |
| ODI record | 282 wickets in 200 matches |
| Domestic teams | Baroda, Mumbai |
| Spouse | Sagarika Ghatge (m. 2017) |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (2011), Padma Shri (2020) |
Early Life
Zaheer grew up in Shrirampur, a small town in Maharashtra, where his father was a photographer and his mother a teacher. He was a good student and began an engineering course, but at 17 his father took him to Mumbai to try his luck at cricket. He joined the National Cricket Club and was picked for the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, where the coach T. A. Sekhar encouraged him.
Career
Zaheer made his ODI debut at the ICC KnockOut Trophy in Kenya in October 2000 and his Test debut against Bangladesh the next month. He was India’s leading bowler at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, where they reached the final. Injuries and loss of form then cost him his place.
A season with the English county Worcestershire in 2006, where he took 78 wickets, transformed him. He shortened his run-up, learned new skills and returned as the leader of the attack. His nine wickets at Trent Bridge in 2007 set up India’s first Test series win in England for 21 years. Under MS Dhoni India rose to number one in the Test rankings in 2009.
At the 2011 World Cup Zaheer took 21 wickets, including key breakthroughs in the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, where he opened with three maidens. He shared the top spot among wicket-takers with Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.
Hamstring and other injuries limited him after 2011. He played his last Test in 2014 and retired from international cricket in October 2015. He played in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils, captaining Delhi in his last seasons.
After Cricket
Zaheer has worked as director of cricket operations at Mumbai Indians and as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. He also runs a chain of fitness centres.
Personal Life
Zaheer married the actress Sagarika Ghatge, known for the film Chak De! India, in November 2017. Their son was born in 2025.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Zaheer Khan born?
Zaheer Khan was born on 7 October 1978 in Shrirampur, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India and is 48 years old.
What is Zaheer Khan’s role?
Role: Left-arm fast-medium bowler.
What honours has Zaheer Khan received?
Arjuna Award (2011), Padma Shri (2020).
Featured image: Zaheer Khan receives the Arjuna Award from sports minister Ajay Maken, New Delhi, 3 October 2011. Photo by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
