Zaheer Khan Open to Bowling Coach Role in Indian Team

Dressed in a dapper sapphire blue bandhgala and jeans, fast bowler Zaheer Khan posed before photographers as flash bulbs lit his beaming face. It was a big day and he basked in the glory of his 15-year-old international cricketing career that's now come to an end. (Zaheer Khan Calls Time On His International Career)

"I am feeling nostalgic. There are so many memories. It was around my birthday (October 7) that I told my ammi and abba that I was retiring. Then I spoke to Sachin (Tendulkar), Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) and few other friends. It's difficult to say how one arrives at it and it's a tough call but I just knew the time was right," the world's fourth-most successful left-handed pacer told NDTV. (Zaheer Khan, A Thinking Bowler Lauds Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni)

Zaheer, who has interest in food and beverage sector and has a hotel in Pune named after him, has ruled out any role in politics and is open to becoming the bowling coach of the national side. ""I am open to it. I have already been advising the boys, so yes, I am open," he stated. (Lifting World Cup Greatest Moment of My Life)

One of the most handsome, well-dressed cricketers, Zaheer, who has been linked with Bollywood star Isha Sharvani in the past, has ruled out marriage. The 37-year-old former speedster said, ""I have not really thought about it (marriage or politics)," he laughed, cheekily adding, "Right now, I am dealing with only one thing at a time. Maybe, meet me a few months later and you could hear more!"

Regarded as a "thinking bowler" by greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Zaheer - who is now India's second highest wicket-taker - said that fast bowler Umesh Yadav had the potential. "He has a very bright future. He just has to have the confidence and get things going for himself."