No bowling coach, Zaheer to take charge

Zaheer Khan bagging Rs 4 crore at a restructured Delhi Daredevils had people rubbing their eyes in surprise. With the possibility of him making an international comeback fast receding, Zaheer's stock had come down a few notches. However, DD had other designs.

Going by the team management, it was communicated to Zaheer that he was picked to look after the bowling unit besides chipping in with the ball. According to

sources, he will be performing the job of 'mentoring' the pacers as the team no longer has the services of former India bowling coach and long-time DD coach Eric Simons. "When he was bought, Zaheer was clearly told that it's his experience and knowledge that are valued more. His job is to guide the seamers and take care of strategizing. He will be helping the likes of Mohammed Shami and Jaydev Unadkat," a senior Daredevils official told TOI.

After a disastrous last season with an overhauled squad, the Daredevils have tried to ensure that the team think tank connects well with head coach Gary Kirsten this time - be it appointing JP Duminy as captain or bringing in Zaheer. "Gary knows Zaheer very well. Zaheer was his leading bowler during his stint as India coach. Gary knows exactly how he can be used."

Now 36, Zaheer has been fighting injuries and niggles for quite some time now. Playing for Mumbai, he pulled out midway through the last IPL season and missed the entire domestic season. Thus the restrain on his part while talking about a comeback. "For the moment, I am enjoying playing cricket again. I have been out of it for so long. This DD side has a lot of fresh faces and I am looking forward to working with them. I am taking one step at a time and this IPL is definitely the first one," Zaheer said at the jersey launch of the Daredevils here on Tuesday.

The DD stint may set the tone for Zaheer's future. But Daredevils board director and long-time mentor TA Sekar believes Zaheer is another season away from taking up that role of a full-time coach. "He has at least two seasons of T20 cricket left in him. He has to bowl just four overs, that too in split spells," Sekar reckoned.