UAE pacer claims he helped Jasprit Bumrah develop slower ball during IPL

Saudi ;A surprising claim by UAE-based pacer Zahoor Khan has triggered discussion among cricket fans after he said he once helped Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah improve his slower-ball technique during the Indian Premier League. The statement, shared in a video circulating on social media, has quickly gone viral and sparked debate among cricket followers.

According to Zahoor Khan, the interaction happened during the 2019 season of the Indian Premier League when matches were held in the United Arab Emirates. Zahoor said he was working as a net bowler for Mumbai Indians at the time and had several discussions with Bumrah regarding bowling strategies and variations.

In the video interview, Zahoor said Bumrah was already using slower balls but he helped him understand how to deliver them without making visible changes to his bowling action. “Bumrah used to bowl slower balls earlier as well. But I showed him how to bowl them without changing the action so that the batter cannot read it easily,” he said.

He recalled that during a match in Abu Dhabi, bowlers including Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter‑Nile had conceded several runs, and the team management was looking for ways to improve bowling strategies under difficult conditions.

Zahoor explained that bowling in the UAE during September was challenging because the ball often became wet at night due to humidity and dew, making it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball properly. This forced teams to experiment with variations such as slower deliveries.

He said the Mumbai Indians management invited him to join the camp and after completing six days of quarantine he attended practice sessions with the team. During the training session, he bowled a yorker followed by several slower deliveries, which caught the attention of the players and coaching staff.

Zahoor said he later sat with Bumrah and captain Rohit Sharma to discuss bowling tactics. He demonstrated the slower deliveries and practised them in the nets with the Indian pace spearhead.

The pacer also mentioned that former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who was serving as the Mumbai Indians bowling coach, and head coach Mahela Jayawardene were present during the session.

According to Zahoor, he bowled a slower bouncer that struck a batter during practice, which impressed the coaching staff. He then showed Bumrah how the variation could be used effectively in different situations.

While Bumrah has since gone on to become one of the world’s leading fast bowlers, Zahoor said he admires the Indian star’s dedication and professionalism.

“Bumrah is a world-class bowler today. I really respect him and like him as a player,” Zahoor said.

The claim has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some fans intrigued by the revelation while others debate the extent of Zahoor’s role in refining Bumrah’s famous slower-ball variation.