Young Kerala fast bowler –Basil Thampi, who is known as a ‘yorker’ specialist – is currently trained at the MRF Pace Foundation before heading into the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, where he will turn up for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
The Academy conducted a special preparatory camp for its IPL contenders and Thampi is one of them who have been trained under the supervision of Australian pace legend –Glenn McGrath, who is the director of the MRF Pace Foundation and chief coach M. Senthilnathan. The Kerala bowler said he feels confident with his variations ahead of the IPL 2018.
Thampi told Sportstar, “They would stand beside the stumps and during delivery time, they would command, ‘wide yorker’, ‘low full-toss’ and I had to bowl accordingly. We practiced this specifically. When I would start the run-up, I would have no idea what I would be asked to bowl.”
The 24-year-old further added, “In six balls, I was told that it’s fine if I bowl six yorkers but I have to ensure it’s a yorker or a lower full toss. I shouldn’t bowl an over-pitched delivery or a full toss; conceding a single is fine, but not a boundary. Four overs, two with the new ball, along with these training methods, have made me confident of my variations. Even the runs conceded were calculated. These days, batsmen walk on the crease, so we were practicing how to bowl to them as well.”
However, there is not a lot of fast bowlers are muscular in India, but Thampi, who is naturally fit, believes in shaping the muscles to prevent injuries. He signed off by saying, “I am just shaping what I naturally have. You have to keep the body fit and calm.”
The pacer was called for India’s Sri Lanka tour in November last year for T20Is but he did not get a chance to bowl, but IPL 2018 could reward him another call to play for India.
