Zaheer smacked Olonga in the 50th over (Twitter)
Zaheer Khan is renowned for his genius with the ball as India's former pace spearhead across formats but do you know there was a time when he unveiled his magic as a lower-order bat and smashed four consecutive sixes during a One-Day International?
An earnest lower-order batter with decent power-hitting capabilities, Zaheer hammered four maximums on the bounce during the 2000-01 five-match ODI series played against Zimbabwe. The feat was achieved in the third ODI of the series in Jodhpur on December 8, exactly 23 years ago.
Facing Zimbabwe's veteran speedster Henry Olonga in the final over of the innings, Zaheer gave the ball a full monte towards the on-side and finished with a valiant cameo of 32* off just 11 deliveries. In a memorable outing with the bat, the then 22-year-old dispatched Olonga's attempted yorkers with great brutality, finding the sweet spot on each occasion.
When Zaheer Smacked Olonga For Four Sixes
Olonga couldn't believe his eyes as he kept trying to nail the inswinging yorker but continued missing his mark against India's tail-end hitter. Two of the four balls even turned into low full-tosses that perfectly landed within Zaheer's arc and were belted towards the deep mid-wicket region.
Back in the day, when T20 wasn't a thing, pacers depended heavily on yorkers to withstand the batter's wrath at the death. Zaheer took advantage of the scenario and stood deep inside the crease in anticipation of the full pitchers.
The Indian No.10 kept hitting the ball through the line towards the on-side for the trio of sixes initially before playing his most delightful shot of the lot with a fourth maximum towards the long-on region. It was a drive that even legendary Sachin Tendulkar would've been proud of as it sailed over straight above the bowler's head.
Even Zaheer's knock couldn't help India keep the spirited Zimbabweans at bay in what was a one-wicket defeat for the hosts following a thrilling encounter in Jodhpur. But the young speedster would've gained immense confidence in his batting after his belligerence against Olonga, who was one of the finest pacers of his times.
 "Kashish Chadha")
