India's Zaheer Khan celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Upul Tharanga during the third one-day international in Goa, India, yesterday. - Reuters

MARGAO, India (Reuters):

INDIA CAPTAIN Rahul Dravid is pinning his hopes on Zaheer Khan at next month's World Cup after the left-arm paceman dismantled Sri Lanka with five wickets yesterday.

The 28-year-old ripped through the top order to take five for 42, his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals, to restrict the opposition to 230 for eight and fashion his side's five-wicket victory.

"I just hope he's peaking at the right time," Dravid told a news conference. "Just as there are key players in all teams, we have our key players and Zaheer Khan is one of them.

"Zaheer has performed beautifully for us. So has Munaf (Patel). Ajit (Agarkar) has bowled well for us. These three boys are very important for us at the World Cup."

Man-of-the-Match Zaheer was dropped from the one-day squad last February due to a slump in form and injury, but fought his way back with fine performances for Worcestershire in English county cricket.

He then produced a string of excellent displays in South Africa and the recent one-day series against West Indies.

"I have been able to hit the length consistently because I have bowled so many overs," the left-armer told reporters, referring to his English county stint.

"That has definitely helped. I have been able to keep up the match fitness and practice."

Sixth to score 10,000

Dravid became the sixth batsman to score 10,000 one-day runs as he notched up his 77th fifty to guide his team past their target and level the series 1-1. The hosts made 233 for five in 46.3 overs.

"Sure 10,000 is nice," Dravid said, after he joined teammates Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly in the exclusive club.

"If you play 300-odd games and you've been a successful player, I think you'll end up with those sort of numbers."

West Indian Brian Lara, Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya are the other batsmen who have reached the milestone.