UAE fast bowler Zahoor is in the news these days for one of his statements. In a video going viral on social media, he has claimed that he has contributed in improving the technique of the deadly slower ball of the Indian team’s star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. According to Zahoor Khan, this incident happened in the year 2020, when the IPL was organized in UAE due to Covid-19. During that time he joined the team as a net bowler for Mumbai Indians. He said that Bumrah used to bowl slower balls earlier also, but he gave some suggestions to further improve his technique.
Talks started after the Abu Dhabi match
Referring to an incident of that time, Zahoor Khan said that in a match played in Abu Dhabi, Bumrah, Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile had given up a lot of runs. He said, ‘Let me tell you a story. Bumrah used to bowl slower balls earlier also, but with normal action. In a match in Abu Dhabi, he, Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile gave away a lot of runs. At that time in September, the temperature in UAE is around 50 degrees and even catching the ball becomes difficult in such heat.
Called for practice session with Mumbai Indians
Zahoor told that after this he was called for a practice session with Mumbai Indians and he caught everyone’s attention with his bowling. Zahoor said in the video, ‘Mumbai Indians called me. I quarantined for six days and went for practice on the seventh day. I was with the team that night. Zaheer Khan and Robin Singh knew me because I had bowled a maiden over in the T10 league. I bowled the first ball a yorker and the next five balls were slower. We were all sitting together, Bumrah came and sat in front of the table, Rohit Sharma also sat there and I was also sitting there, just watching everything.
Mumbai Indians management already knew the specialty
Zahoor Khan told that the team management of Mumbai Indians already knew about his slower balls. Many members of the team were familiar with his bowling due to his performance in the T10 league. He recalled that during this time he had a long conversation with Indian star pacer Jasprit Bumrah regarding the technique of slower ball. After this both of them also bowled together in the nets. According to Zahoor, he told Bumrah, ‘The slower ball is bowled with the same action and the same grip. He asked how is this possible? I said I will tell in practice. He said, ‘Okay, please show your grip in the next practice.’
Slow ball technique shown in the nets
Zahoor said that when the next practice session started, he impressed everyone with his bowling in the nets. At that time, Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond and head coach Mahela Jayawardene were also present there. He said, ‘When practice started, I was bowling. At that time Shane Bond was the bowling coach and Mahela Jayawardene was standing behind the nets. I bowled a slower bouncer, which the batsman dodged. Then Shane Bond asked me what is your grip? Do you bowl off-cutters? I said no, this is a ball bowled with the same grip.
Coach Shane Bond and Jayawardene were also surprised
According to Zahoor, Shane Bond told Jayawardene that this is a new thing in cricket, see how he is bowling slower balls with the same action and arm speed. Zahoor says that his technique had also impressed the team’s coaching staff. Zahoor Khan further said that when he was asked to show his grip, he repeated the same technique in the nets. He said, ‘He asked me to show him how to do it. I bowled the ball like this and then bowled two-three slower balls. After this he told Jayawardene that this is a new thing in cricket. He said, ‘Look how brilliantly he bowls the slower ball, keeping the same action and the same arm speed.’
Bumrah himself had asked the secret of slower ball
According to Zahoor, a day or two later he bowled with Jasprit Bumrah in the nets. During that time Bumrah asked him about the grip of the slower ball. He said, ‘Bumrah told me – Paaji, what is your grip, show me.’ I showed him the same grip and told him that the ball should come in the same action. Then he bowled and said, this is next level stuff. Zahoor finally said that he liked the fact that despite being such a big star bowler, Bumrah was eager to learn new things. He said, ‘I am currently playing for UAE and he is a world class bowler. I liked the fact that despite being such a big star, he was asking me.’ Although there has been no official reaction from Jasprit Bumrah and Mumbai Indians on this claim of Zahoor Khan, but after this video surfaced, the discussion regarding this claim has definitely intensified among the cricket fans.
