Zaheer Khan recalls the conversation with coach Sudhir Naik that ‘turned an engineering aspirant into an India cricketer’

From Zaheer Khan
When I saw Sir lying in the hospital bed during my recent visit, a conversation I had with him years ago flashed through my mind. I had gone to the National Cricket Club ground at Cross Maidan in Mumbai and Sir saw me bowl at the nets. Even today, it’s a mystery what he saw in me. I was a raw, young kid who wanted to pursue engineering but at the same time, loved cricket too. And like so many other aspiring cricketers, I had come to Mumbai with the dream of playing for India one day.
Sir walked up to me and simply said, ‘I am putting your name in my team and you will play all ‘A’ Division games’. I had no clue what ‘A’ Division games meant but I was amazed and didn’t know how to react. He then asked me, ‘What is your plan? I am hearing you’re planning to pursue engineering. If I put all my effort in (grooming) you, I don’t want it to go to waste. I will be committed to you, I hope you won’t go home. Ghar toh nahi jayega na?’
I just shook my head and mumbled, ‘no, no sir’. He then called someone and asked him to put my name on the l of players who’d represent National CC in Division A of the Mumbai league.
I was surprised because the team already had good pacers and I was a newbie. I had no experience of playing competitive cricket, never played at any level but still, he had complete faith in me.
I was amazed at how clear his thoughts were. He was a very straightforward person since day one. He would be clear in his communication and wouldn’t mince words. His nature, passion and commitment turned an engineering aspirant into an India cricketer.

When I heard about his demise on Wednesday, I remembered that conversation. When I look back, that one moment and decision made me the Zaheer Khan everyone knows now.
I would not have been what I am today had he not shown trust in me on day one of the nets. I always wanted to ask him, just in one nets session what did he see in me that made him feel that I had it in me? Alas, I never could and it’ll remain a mystery to me. He’d talk cricket sitting at the Cross Maidan tent, sip chai and leave once the game was over.
His passing away is a big loss not just for me, but for Indian cricket overall.
-As told to Devendra Pandey