Former cricketers pour in their wishes as Zaheer Khan turns 39

The legendary Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan turned 39 on Saturday and his former teammates turned up to social media to share their wishes. The left-arm quick is currently busy in covering the series between India and Australia for Star Sports, the official broadcaster. Zaheer is the one of the best, if not the best bowler India has ever produced who ruled the batsmen during his heydays with his ability to swing the ball both ways.

He is the fourth highest wicket-taker for India in the longest format of the game only behind Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Harbhajan Singh. Also, in the One-Day Internationals, he ranks fourth in the list of highest wicket-takers for India after Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar. However, he was also named as the bowling consultant of the current Indian team on overseas tours by Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) but things didn’t reach the final agreement.

Sehwag’s unique tweet

On his 39th birthday former teammates and colleagues Aakash Chopra, VVS Laxman and Hemang Badani sent out messages for him. But as usual, Virender Sehwag stole all the limelight with his unique and witty tweet by terming the birthday boy as ‘Gyaan Baba’. He also tried to tease him by mentioning this as his last birthday as a bachelor. In his wish Viru wrote, “Happy Birthday to one of India’s greatest ever bowler and one of the sharpest cricketing brain, Gyaan Baba @ImZaheer #LastBachelorsBirthday”

Zaheer is all set to tie the knot with the Bollywood actress Sagarika Ghatge in November after getting engaged earlier this year. The veteran is also gearing up to mark his return to the competitive cricket in the next season of Indian Premier League (IPL). India is still in search of the left-arm fast bowler of his ability and it is seldom that a replacement for such great bowlers is found.

Here are the tweets:

This is one of my best memories of my debut with a special person & a friend for life! Happybday fella, shine on like u always do @ImZaheer pic.twitter.com/iYP6ujcPP9

— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) October 7, 2017

Here’s wishing Former #TeamIndia speedster @ImZaheer a very happy birthday. pic.twitter.com/OfWUvw61Bp

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 7, 2017

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Zak Bhai @ImZaheer have a great one? pic.twitter.com/EOeJ2WT9GK

— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) October 7, 2017

Happy birthday to a wily bowler , wonderful man and a great friend @ImZaheer .Have a great year Zak ! pic.twitter.com/FzNJEVIFUq

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 7, 2017

Happy Birthday to one of India's greatest ever bowler and one of the sharpest cricketing brain, Gyaan Baba @ImZaheer #LastBachelorsBirthday pic.twitter.com/4EybZYwobb

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 7, 2017

Wishing the ‘Sachin Tendulkar’ of Indian fast bowling a very happy Birthday…have a good one ZK ?? pic.twitter.com/WbNzBnhFJ1

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 7, 2017

Happy Birthday @ImZaheer. A top man who continues to hit plenty of high notes for Indian Cricket with the ?️in hand in the Commentary Box. pic.twitter.com/7gIetTemOw

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) October 7, 2017