Batting giant Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday (April 19) lauded Zaheer Khan's spectacular catch to dismiss Richardo Powell during India Legends’ seven-wicket win over West Indies Legends in the first game of the Road Safety World Series at the Wankhede Stadium last month.
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Speaking on his Youtube channel, Tendulkar said it was probably Zaheer’s best catch, including during his playing days.
"Zaheer... there is a funny incident with him on the ground," Sachin shared. "When Ricardo Powell was batting, this was in the 14th-15th over or so. I know I have played against Ricardo Powell and I know how much power he generates. I don't know for what... Zaheer was standing good 10-12 yards inside the line and I kept telling him 'Zak go back, go back'. But the crowd was so loud he could not hear me and neither was he looking at me. So I was like 'what are you doing?'. And Ricardo Powell hits the ball to him.
"I was standing at short fine and I could see he hadn't timed the ball well. I was like okay it will go to his hand. The moment Zaheer started going backwards, I thought to myself this catch is gone. Then, suddenly out of the blues he takes a blinder,” he explained.
In the 17th over of West Indies Legends innings, Powell was dismissed by Munaf Patel but all the credit for the wicket should go to Zaheer, who jumped and stretched his arms out to complete the stunning one-handed catch.
"I think Zak -- let me go on record and say -- that was your's life best catch'. Including your playing days, by the way. That was actually the turning point of that game because if Ricardo Powell had lasted even 10-15 balls at that time, the total would have been different," Tendulkar remarked.
Coming to the match, West Indies Legends had posted 150/8 in 20 overs on the back of Chanderpaul’s 41-ball 61. Munaf (2/24), Ojha (2/27) and Zaheer (2/30) claimed two wickets each for India Legends.
In reply, India Legends rode on Sehwag’s unbeaten 57-ball 74 to overhaul the target in 18.2 overs. Skipper Tendulkar also played a dazzling knock of 36 from 29 deliveries.
The Road Safety World Series was later postponed indefinitely due to the growing COVID-19 concerns.
