Domestic season will be big test, says Zaheer Khan

Back in India after undergoing a rigorous fitness camp in France, Zaheer Khan said he was hoping for a good run in domestic cricket and a return to the Indian team at the earliest.

In an interview to DNA, Zaheer admitted that his fitness had let him down in recent times and that he was working on his body to be able to play the 2015 World Cup. "Everybody wants to represent the country," he said. "If I am fit and can meet the demands, things should fall in place. My fitness has let me down and I am working on it.

"My next big test would be the domestic season. I want to get back into the Indian team."

Zaheer was dropped from the Test team ahead of the Kolkata match against England in December last year after taking just four wickets in the previous three matches of the series.

His comeback bid then received a setback when he suffered a calf injury after turning out for Mumbai in a couple of Ranji Trophy games. He made a late appearance in the 2013 Indian Premier League, playing only two matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Against Chennai Super Kings on May 18 - the second of the two matches he played - he returned impressive figures of 4 for 17.

Speaking about his stint in France under Tim Exeter, the well-known sports performance specialist, Zaheer said, "It was a good conditioning outing. We (Zaheer and Yuvraj Singh) worked on fitness.

"I think we went to the right guy. Tim knows what every sportsperson needs in this competitive world. This was the first phase of my conditioning. We will go to South Africa early next month. I plan to work on fielding and bowling there."

Zaheer also said that he was practising yoga under BKS Iyengar. "He (Iyengar) has been an inspiration and his yoga has helped me in many ways," said Zaheer.

Speaking on the Indian team's impressive run after several senior players were dropped, Zaheer said he didn't feel his return was under threat. "Youngsters doing well is a good sign for Indian cricket," he said. "And if the seniors do the same, then you become a champion side. There is no threat. Competition only helps you do your best."