I wasn’t inspired by Paul Adams: Shivil Kaushik

In spite of not making much of an impact with the ball, Shivil Kaushik has grabbed most of the headlines of the recently concluded Indian Premier League. The starlet’s unorthodox action has triggered an outpour of memes and cartoons on social media. Although his action has been compared to former South African spinner Paul Adams, Kaushik reiterates that he wasn’t inspired by Paul Adams. Kaushik also added that he watched Adams play for the Proteas at the age of 15 and believed that he could make it big despite his catchy action.”I wasn’t inspired by Paul Adams or anyone,” Kaushik says. “This is the action given to me by God. It came naturally to me, but

“I wasn’t inspired by Paul Adams or anyone,” Kaushik says. “This is the action given to me by God. It came naturally to me, but later on, when I was 14 or 15, I watched videos of Paul Adams and I thought, ‘If he can play for the country, why can’t I?’ I never wanted to change the action. I knew if I click with this action, I can make it big.”
Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, a member of the coaching staff of the Hubli Tigers stated that the action came naturally to Kaushik. The latter was first noted by the Gujarat Lions in his stint at the Karnataka Premier League with the Tigers where he made a name for himself.”It comes naturally to him and his body is used to it for many years,” Vidyut says. “He knows what works for him and that is his strength.”

“It comes naturally to him and his body is used to it for many years,” Vidyut says. “He knows what works for him and that is his strength.”
Vidyut thinks Kaushik can be “hot property” in T20 if he adds some variations. “Obviously, the awkwardness makes it tough for the opposition,” he says. “His wrist speed is also fast, and he mostly bowls back of a length without much width, which is difficult to hit in T20s. Except Steven Smith, AB [de Villiers] and Virat [Kohli], not many hit him in the IPL.”At the KPL, he can always be difficult to pick and play, but at the IPL he has to keep adding to his game. I am confident he will continue to find ways to become consistent and better.”

“At the KPL, he can always be difficult to pick and play, but at the IPL he has to keep adding to his game. I am confident he will continue to find ways to become consistent and better.””I was eager to talk to him [Tahir] because he has been great for South Africa,” Kaushik says. “He has six variations of the flipper. So after the match, Mayank Agarwal [Delhi Daredevils batsman], my friend who plays for Karnataka, asked if he could share some words with me. He was kind enough to show me the flippers.

“I was eager to talk to him [Tahir] because he has been great for South Africa,” Kaushik says. “He has six variations of the flipper. So after the match, Mayank Agarwal [Delhi Daredevils batsman], my friend who plays for Karnataka, asked if he could share some words with me. He was kind enough to show me the flippers.”I feel the flipper is the toughest delivery for a wrist spinner and I am working on it. I practise it at the KSCA IDBI spin foundation.

“I feel the flipper is the toughest delivery for a wrist spinner and I am working on it. I practise it at the KSCA IDBI spin foundation.
“Raghuram Bhat, who has played for India, helps me with variations. He is teaching me how to hold the fingers differently to grip the ball. If you grip the ball differently, it will also be a good variation. Holding the grip closer and also wider are things I am working on.”