Murugan Ashwin-Imran Tahir exchange notes on bowling

06/09/2016

RPSG spinner Murugan Ashwin may not have made a big mark on the IPL scene this year, but he sure has achieved it with Imran Tahir. The spinner described how he showed his googly to the Proteas spinner, who plays for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, and in turn received advice on the flipper from Tahir.

The exchange appears to have begun during South Africa's tour of India last year. "I got to know him during India's ODI against South Africa at Chepauk last year. Tahir was watching me closely when I was bowling at the nets to the South Africa players. He came up to me and praised the way I was bowling especially the googly. I showed him the grip I use while bowling a googly and he was keen to learn," Murugan Ashwin told TOI.

The duo took it forward during the IPL this year. "While he was looking to fine tune his googly, I was keen to learn how to bowl the flipper from him. Tahir is someone who bowls it very well, and he didn't mind sharing the secrets of his skill," noted Ashwin.

Murugan Ashwin had a largely forgettable IPL similar to his namesake in the Pune team, going wicket-less over the last five matches he played despite MSD's persistence with him. But the spinner appears to have taken it in his stride. "To have played alongside a host of international stars and be captained by one of the best -- MS Dhoni, I couldn't have asked for more. The biggest takeaway for me was these stars' involvement with the game. The way they train, maintain their diet and prepare for a game was something I learnt," said Ashwin to ToI.

Ashwin also praised his skipper saying, "He wouldn't bombard me with an overdose of information. The instructions from his end were always to the point which only made my task easier."

Speaking about the bond he enjoys with Ravichandran Ashwin, Murugan said, "We speak the same language, so it's easier to connect. He told me about bowling at different periods of play, and it was fascinating to listen to him," reported ToI.

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