Sakib Hussain has made a spectacular impact in his debut IPL season for SRH.
Following SRH's 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday (April 21), Aaron noted that Hussain's slower deliveries are particularly effective because they generate as much turn as an off-spinner's ball while maintaining the same arm speed as his 140+ kmph deliveries.
While Eshan Malinga hogged the headlines with a four-wicket haul against DC, Sakib quietly delivered another impactful spell, returning with figures of 1/29 in his four overs.
“With Sakib, that slower ball is just brilliant. He’s almost getting as much turn as an off-spinner on it. Same arm speed, executes his yorkers, and can bowl 140-plus as well. In today’s game, you need that variation — to go from 140-145 down to almost 107,” Aaron said in the post-match presser.
Sakib Hussain has made a spectacular impact in the ongoing IPL for SRH, with the highlight being his four wickets on debut against Rajasthan Royals.
While the raw talent was always present, Aaron highlighted that Sakib had previously lacked access to long-term professional coaching.
Following his acquisition by SRH for ₹30 lakh, the 21-year-old pacer worked closely with the franchise coaching staff to refine his skills.
“I’ve seen Shakib for almost two years now. He has always had pace — a very quick arm action and an awkward style. As a batsman, especially at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, if you just bowl 140-plus with a smooth action, you can get lined up easily. You need something different, and his slower ball is outstanding. The skills were always there, but he didn’t have access to long-term coaching,” Aaron explained.
“Over the last couple of months, he has put in a lot of work. Since the World Cup, we’ve had specific camps for him. He spent five days in Mumbai, then we called him to Chennai, where we worked closely with him. A lot of behind-the-scenes work has gone in since the auction,” he added.
In the end, Varun Aaron emphasized that Sakib Hussain's success is driven by his "will and hunger" to improve.
“He has responded really well. Most importantly, he has the will and the hunger. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you don’t have the drive and desire to improve, it doesn’t matter,” the bowling coach stated.