The Pakistan-born pacer joined the Mumbai Indians camp as a net bowler in 2014.
Pakistan-born pacer Zahoor Khan has claimed that star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah asked for his advice and India skipper Rohit Sharma struggled to pick his deliveries while facing him.
Zahoor, who plays for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), joined the Mumbai Indians (MI) as a net bowler in 2014 and he trained with the star players when the Indian Premier League (IPL) was shifted to the Middle East due to COVID-19 in 2020.
Zahoor revealed Bumrah was impressed with his slower deliveries and wanted to learn from him on how to bowl it. He also sought suggestion from the MI pace spearhead on how to bowl yorkers with the new ball.
"I was with Mumbai Indians for three months. I've spent reasonable amount of time with Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah in fact liked me so much and asked me the grip. Yeh slower ball kaise dalte ho? (How do you bowl this delivery This is a huge deal for me as he is the world's No. 1 bowler, and he asked me about the grip. He watched my video as well in the T10 tournament where I bowled a maiden. I told him but also asked him how he bowls Yorkers with the new ball. Because only 2 people in the world can do it - Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah," Zahoor told Sports Tak.
Zahoor Khan heaped praise on Rohit Sharma, saying that the former MI skipper ensured he was comfortable in the camp. He further stated that Rohit was left bamboozled with his bowling in the nets.
“The entire stadium is yours, paaji. If you need anything, just let me know," Zahoor recalled Rohit’s words.
"I even bowled to Rohit Sharma. Once I bowled him a slower ball, and he kept on looking because the ball hardly reached him. Even he couldn’t pick my deliveries. He was like how can it be so slow? Then I bowled at him again. He said even if the batter picks your ball, it will never result in a six," he added.
Zahoor would love to spend more time with Mumbai Indians, provided the opportunity. But even if it doesn’t happen, he cherishes his time with the fie-time IPL champions.
“Rohit… where do I even begin to speak about him? He's a legend. The way he speaks and conducts himself. When I was with MI, Rohit would have his food with the same guys who would carry our luggage. As for Bumrah, he is a superstar. He was injured for a year all right but look what he has done since his return. He has shown that he is back. He too is a wonderful human being," he remarked.