Rest is best for 'tired' Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan failed to unleash the pent-up frustration of a tepid IPL 4 outing with a match-winning performance against Chennai Super Kings in the final, on Saturday, but the Indian pace spearhead is hopeful of a comeback in the Test series against West Indies later next month.

With the IPL being played within six days of a gruelling World Cup, there were obvious doubts of injury and fatigue. Though the Indian players turned out for their respective franchises in the T20 carnival, the ensuing 74 days took a toll on the injured Gautam Gambhir and the likes of MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan.

Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh too pulled out of the entire tour to the West Indies due to an illness. Notably, Sachin Tendulkar will also not feature in both the one-day and Test series.

While Zaheer felt the absence of the seniors was a huge opportunity for the fringe players to make an impact, the left-arm pacer said the 'rest' was necessary for him especially with the sheer amount of cricket ahead in coming months.

"It's going to be a hectic season ahead... We are playing a lot of crucial tours abroad in the coming months. It's really important personally for me to make sure that I manage myself well fitness-wise," Zaheer said at the sidelines of a promotional event.

On Gautam Gambhir's outing in the IPL despite an injury, Zaheer said, "It's a technical issue... The physios are better-placed to tackle these things. It's up to the board."