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Pakistani-born UAE cricketer Zahoor Khan, speaking during an interview on social media:
“Jasprit Bumrah used to bowl normal slower deliveries. There was a match in Abu Dhabi where he gave away a lot of runs, and also Trent Boult and Coulter Nile got hit badly because the IPL was happening in September, and in the UAE the temperature reaches 50 degrees. It’s so hot that the ball doesn’t even come properly into your hand, and by 7–8 PM there’s so much dew that the ground becomes wet.”
“I was called up, quarantined for six days, and then went to practice on the seventh day. That night, the team included Zaheer Khan and Robin Singh, who knew me because I had bowled a maiden over in the T10 League against Lendl Simmons. In that over, I bowled 1 yorker and then five consecutive slower balls. Zaheer Khan remembered and said, “Zahoor, show me that video of the six balls you bowled in that maiden over.” I found it on YouTube and showed him. Jasprit Bumrah was also sitting there at the table, watching. He said, “how are you doing that?” I explained that I bowled all six slower balls with the same action and grip.”
“Bumrah was surprised and said, “This is the same guy who smashed us in the last World Cup. How are you bowling slower balls with the same action?” I told him I’d show him in practice. He agreed and said, “Next practice, you’ll show me your grip.”
“In practice, Shane Bond was there as the bowling coach, standing behind the nets. I bowled a slower bouncer that beat the batter. Shane asked me, “What’s your grip?” I said, “It’s the same.” He insisted, “Show me.” I bowled two or three slower balls with the same grip and action. Shane Bond was impressed and said, “This is something new in cricket—look how well he bowls slower balls with the same action and speed. A couple of days later, I was bowling alongside Bumrah again. He asked me, “What’s your grip for the slower ball? Show me.” I demonstrated, showing him the same grip and action. He tried it himself and said, “This is next-level stuff.”
“For me, it was a proud moment—being a UAE player and having a world-class star like Bumrah ask me about my technique. It felt really good that such a big name in cricket was learning something from me.”
