Mumbai, Dec 24: India’s tour Down Under is widely believed to be their best chance to achieve that elusive Test series win in Australia. But for one man, it is also an opportunity to compose a redemption song.

Zaheer Khan picked up a five-for in his first Test in that country – five for 95 in Brisbane, 2003 – only to return home with a hamstring injury after two Tests and without adding to his wicket tally. In 2007, he got the start again, with four for 94 in the first innings in Melbourne, before his left heel acted up and ended his tour after the first Test.

Having recovered from a hamstring injury sustained during the Lord’s Test, Zaheer has regained match fitness playing a couple of Ranji Trophy games for Mumbai and working closely with the physio. He spoke to exclusively to bcci.tv in the lead up to his return as India’s bowling spearhead. Excerpts below.

After two incomplete tours to Australia, this series must be especially important for you.

Yes, I hope I can be third time lucky. The last two times I couldn’t finish the tours due to injuries. This time I’m feeling confident going there because I’ve had the time to prepare. I’m feeling good about my bowling as well; the rhythm is picking up. I look forward to making a more significant contribution this time.

Do you believe India will be heading to Australia one-up on the hosts this time around?

Over the years we’ve developed a very healthy rivalry against Australia. No matter what the team is, touring Australia is always a challenge. It will take a lot of effort from us to play in those conditions and we’ll have to bring out our A game if we want to win. It will be crucial for us to start well because that will set the momentum for the entire series.

The rivalry was born during the famous 2001 series. What impact did it have on you as a youngster?

Being exposed to a high-pressure series like that at such an early phase in my career was a huge learning [experience]. I’ve never been part of a more intense series. Especially the Kolkata Test win, where we fought back after being asked to follow on, had a huge impact on me. It boosted my mental strength and prepared me to deal with pressure in a better way.

Do you believe that series started a renaissance of sorts in Indian cricket?

The development has been gradual. It started under Sourav [Ganguly] when we started touring better. Under Anil [Kumble] and now under MS Dhoni we just kept raising the bar. It’s all about creating good habits and sticking to them. In the last three and a half years, under Gary [Kirsten], we’ve put a system in place where roles are clearly defined and everyone knows exactly what is expected of them. We all have the confidence that in difficult times someone will stand up and see the team through. These things are developed over the years.

Under Ganguly, aggression became one of India’s hallmarks, especially against Australia.

It’s important to be aggressive not only against Australia but against any team that you play. And aggression doesn’t mean you keep sledging all the time. It can also come out as a good body language and having the killer instinct to pick up crucial breakthroughs when things are going well for you.

And what’s your memory of that send-off to Matthew Hayden during the 2008 Mohali Test?

It’s just the will to perform at the highest level against the best in the world. Yes, I want to be aggressive but I don’t plan it. Being a fast bowler, it comes naturally to me. But you need to be wise about how you show it and I’ve learnt that with experience.

What are your thoughts on the composition of the team for the series?

As far as batting is concerned, to have guys who have toured Australia before more than once will definitely give us that edge. Yes, the bowling wears a new look and we’ll have to chalk out our plans keeping in mind the conditions. I’m sure we can do it successfully. Ishant [Sharma] has played there before; I too am familiar with the country. We will miss the experience of someone like Harbhajan [Singh] who has played a lot of cricket in Australia. The youngsters will have to adapt to the conditions as soon as possible.

These are exciting times for Indian cricket as far as fast bowling goes. What do you make of the young pacers rising through the ranks?

What stands out with some of these young pacers is that they regularly clock speeds in the high 140s. It is always good for a young fast bowler to have that raw pace; other things can be achieved through a bit of fine-tuning. As I spend time with them and understand their bowling styles better, I will try my best to give them the guidance they need. The tour to Australia will be a huge learning experience for these youngsters. They’ll enjoy bowling on the bouncy tracks there. All I’d say to them is to keep things simple and do what they’ve been doing so far.

You’ve been a guiding force to young Indian fast bowlers and especially to Ishant Sharma. It must be heartening for you to see him back to his best?

We all know Ishant has the potential to be one of the best fast bowlers for India. At this level, at times you can have a loss of form and it’s important to go back to the basics. With the kind of schedule that we have, it’s important to understand your body and your bowling style and follow a routine that helps you maintain your rhythm and fitness right through the season. I think Ishant has learnt that now. He now knows what works best for him.

Ishant recently said that one reason for losing his rhythm was that he was trying to copy you. Did you know about that?

I had no idea about that. I only came to know when I read it in the newspapers. He never mentioned it to me. Had he spoken to me about it, I’d have straightaway told him, ‘Forget about that because our bowling styles are completely different.’