‘Lose some weight,’ Ganguly’s hilarious birthday wish for Zaheer Khan; other cricketers too shower legend with love

One of India’s beloved and greatest cricketers, Zaheer Khan, entered the big club-40 on Sunday as birthday wishes from his former teammates and good friends poured on the social media.

Here are some of the wishes from Twitter: 

Happy birthday @ImZaheer zed K.. have a great year ...please loose some weight...u were India’s strength 

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) October 7, 2018

610 international wickets ☝️
India's joint highest wicket-taker at the @cricketworldcup 
One of their finest ever pace bowlers 

Happy 40th birthday @ImZaheer! pic.twitter.com/bFYH8dj4D0

— ICC (@ICC) October 7, 2018

Wishing a wonderful man , a great match-winner for India and my buddy @ImZaheer a very very happy Birthday pic.twitter.com/VfpiGZywoF

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 7, 2018

Happy Birthday to the man whose deliveries gatecrashed many stumps , have a great life ahead Gyaan Baba @ImZaheer ! pic.twitter.com/4GJUlvDysm

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 7, 2018

Most wickets for India in

2003 World Cup: Zaheer Khan
2007 World Cup: Zaheer Khan
2011 World Cup: Zaheer Khan

Happy Birthday Zaheer Khan!

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) October 7, 2018

Happy Birthday wise young man @ImZaheer . Have a great one Zak ! pic.twitter.com/nxP6cTsr3h

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 7, 2018

@ImZaheer Wishing you Happy Birthday Zak! We all are indebted to you... for the invaluable bowling lessons shared that elevated Indian bowling pic.twitter.com/Gowdtzgk5Y

— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) October 7, 2018

Happy Bday @ImZaheer! Here’s to the year being nothing but great for you in every way!

— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) October 7, 2018

@ImZaheer Happy Birthday Zak bhai! I hope all your wishes come true, today and every day. All the best!

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) October 7, 2018

Happy birthday Mr khan ⁦@ImZaheer⁩ what a top man  pic.twitter.com/Ea9pRu0nKy

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 7, 2018

Zaheer is still known as the 'Indian King of Reverse Swing' and he will always be remembered for his key contribution to India’s several iconic victories including the historic World Cup 2011 triumph at home.  The left-arm seamer was the highest wicket-taker for the Indian team in the 2003, 2011 World Cup. 

The pacer, who was born in Shrirampur, Maharashtra, had a glorious 15-year-old career having played 309 international matches (92 ODIs, 200 Tests and 17 T20Is).

Zaheer made his ODI debut against Kenya in 2000 during the Knock-Out Cup and continued to play till 2012, taking 282 wickets. His best figures in ODI were 5 for 42 that he picked against Sri Lanka. He had 11 five-wicket hauls in Tests and one 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh in 2010.

He played his first Test in 2000 and went onto play 92 Test matches accumulating 311 wickets with best bowling figures in an innings being seven for 87.

In the 50-over format, Zaheer still remains the fourth highest wicket-taker for India after Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, and Ajit Agarkar. Meanwhile, in Test cricket, the list somehow remains the same as Zaheer ranks fourth after Kumble, Kapil Dev and Harbhajan Singh.