Will Zaheer Khan be Back for Delhi Daredevils?

Delhi Daredevils made the most expensive buy of the 2015 IPL auction, spending 16 crore on Yuvraj 3.0. Before the 2011 World Cup victory Yuvraj was version 1.0, after cancer Yuvraj was version 2.0, post getting dropped again Yuvraj is said to be a fitter and meaner, version 3.0. It matters little that we're still to see Yuvraj's new found meanness. But we talk about Yuvraj because it is with the king of six hitting that a certain Zaheer Khan has been training pre-IPL 8.(All the Latest Updates From IPL 2015)

Yuvraj and Zaheer had a daily routine of working out in the latter's gymnasium in Mumbai in the months prior to the IPL. When the IPL started Delhi was said to be a power house of pace bowlers with Nathan Coulter-Nile, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Gurinder Sandhu and Jaydev Unadkat forming the pace attack. But with their first choice bowler Shami, getting injured early on most expected to see Zaheer Khan lead the attack. NDTV expert Sunil Gavaskar went to the extent of saying that Delhi had made a mistake in not picking Zaheer in their first few matches. It was later reported that Zaheer wasn't a 100% fit.

As it turns out the Delhi camp is quietly confident of Zaheer making a comeback when the Daredevils take on Punjab in Delhi on Friday.

Delhi leg-spinner Amit Mishra was asked by NDTV can we expect some changes in the next game and he said 'maybe you will see some experience coming in and helping the team'.

Delhi Captain JP Duminy had earlier told PTI that 'I think he is about 95% fit, to be honest. My thinking is Zaheer will be up for selection for the game on (May) the 1st'

Indian origin Australian Gurinder Sandhu who himself has just recovered after falling sick for a short duration in fact backed Zaheer to make a comeback to the Indian Cricket team by the end of the IPL, obviously based on what he has been seeing in the nets.

Sandhu said 'Yuvi and Zak bhai have been training really hard. Both can make a comeback to the Indian team. Hopefully we will see Zak in the park soon and showing his skills. It hasn't been that good for us really. We missed out. Shami has been injured. So we would love to have him back in the park. It has allowed me a couple of net sessions with him, just talking to him about bowling in general.'

The Gary Kirsten coached franchise bought the 36-year-old former Indian pacer for Rs 4 crore after a bidding war with Mumbai Indians. That's a lot to spend on an injury prone has been. But clearly the experience of Zaheer is what makes him worth it.

The big question is will we see a wicket-taking Zaheer who will rattle the best in the business with his swing or will we see a careful, economy-driven Zaheer show up on the field.