Just like Zaheer Khan: Khaleel Ahmed 'remarkable' bowling figures in debut gets everybody talking

Khaleel Ahmed impressed everyone with his performance on his ODI debut for India. Ahmed was handed the national cap by Rohit Sharma ahead of the match against Hong Kong. 

Ahmed, who hails from Tonk in Rajasthan, got three wickets for India in the match including the very important wicket of Nizakat Khan. Khaleel got his first wicket when trapped Nizakat, who was on 92, leg before wicket. 

Khaleel ended up with figures of 3/48 in his first match. 

Khaleel matched his idol Zaheer Khan with debut figures. Zaheer also had the same bowling figures in his first ODI match. Ahmed is left arm pacer just like Zaheer and is being touted as someone who could play a similar role for India. 

The coincidence was quickly noted by experts and fans.

Khaleel Ahmed has grown up idolising Zaheer Khan. Wants to better his role model by one wicket. Well the start is auspicious. Zak claimed 3/48 on debut vs Kenya, Khaleel registers the same figures on a challenging night. Go well young man #IndvHK

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) September 18, 2018

CO-INCIDENCE: Khaleel Ahmed takes 3/48 on his ODI debut tonight v Hong Kong

Coincidentally his idol Zaheer Khan too recorded 3/48 on his ODI debut v Kenya in the Champions Trophy (2000)#INDvHK #AsiaCup18 @ImZaheer

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 18, 2018

What a co-incidence...
Zaheer khan in his debut 3wickets/48 runs

Khaleel ahmad in his debut 3wickets/48runs

Both left arm medium fast@Atheist_Krishna #INDvHK

— Harshit Dhawan (@dhwnharshit) September 18, 2018

Left arm khaleel shares his debut figures with zaheer khan 3/48... Hope india grooms him well #INDvHK

— Rishi (@Im_rishi7) September 18, 2018

So #KhaleelAhmed has said that His idol is Zaheer Khan and coincidently even @ImZaheer had claimed 3/48 on his Debut Game vs Kenya.

Khaleel registers the same Figures on a challenging night where #TeamIndia struggled. @StarSportsIndia #INDvHK #AsiaCup18 #NerolacCricketLive

— Aditya Saha (@adityakumar480) September 18, 2018

Khaleel... could be new Zaheer Khan! #indvshkg #asiacup2018

— Syed Salman (@syedsalman0078) September 18, 2018

However, many twitter users compared Khaleel's action to Australia's Mitchell Starc.

Khaleel 'Starc' Ahmed. 100 points for tonight. MOTM performance

— M. Sarosh Ebrahim (@msarosh) September 18, 2018

Khaleel's action a bit like Starc, isn't it?

— Tabrez (@its_tabrez_) September 18, 2018

Khaleel Ahmed bowling action looks a bit like @mstarc56 #INDvHK #AsiaCup2018

— NTR Fan (@Mohankrish9999) September 18, 2018

Well, it was surely a match to remember for the 20-year-old Khaleel Ahmed.