"I beat both of them" - Mumbai off-spinner Himanshu Singh opens up on experience of bowling to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in the nets
Mumbai off-spinner Himanshu Singh asserted that his confidence was boosted significantly after he bowled to legendary batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during India's net sessions in Chennai. The 21-year-old recalled beating both cricketers in the nets but acknowledged that beating Kohli was more satisfying.
Himanshu was one of the net bowlers during India's six-day camp in Chennai ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh. He registered impressive figures of 3-53 & 4-77 as Mumbai beat Odisha in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy clash on Saturday, November 9. In his previous match against Tripura, he was Player of the Match for claiming 6-65 and scoring 59 in a drawn encounter.
Speaking to the media after Mumbai thumped Odisha at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC in Mumbai, Himanshu explained how bowling to India's big names in the nets prepared him for the Ranji Trophy challenge. The youngster said (as quoted by The Times of India):
"I had gone there (Chennai) first, (playing in the) Ranji (Trophy) happened for me later. I got a lot of confidence after bowling there against big players. The confidence is now reflecting here and I am happy about it.
"I learned a lot from looking at how those players prepared and I also spoke with them. It was a great experience for six days. I enjoyed bowling to Dhruv Jurel. The wickets there were mostly flat. I bowled a lot to him and he was doing well. So, I enjoyed the contest," the 21-year-old added.
Elaborating on the experience of bowling to Kohli and Rohit in the nets, Himanshu commented:
"I bowled at them and beat both of them, but beating Virat bhai was more satisfying. I spoke with (Ravindra) Jadeja about his preparations etc."
In three first-class matches, Himanshu has claimed 16 wickets at an average of 18.18, with one five-wicket haul and one four-wicket haul.
"I only follow two bowlers, Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin" - Himanshu Singh
Speaking about his cricketing idols, Himanshu said he only follows two off-spinners - India's Ravichandran Ashwin and Australia's Nathan Lyon. The youngster added that he has learned about the art of off-spin by watching the greats of the game bowl. He said:
"I only follow two bowlers all over the world, Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin. Whatever I have learned in terms of off-spin bowling in white and red-ball cricket, has been from watching them bowl."
"I have always enjoyed bowling, so, I don't feel any pressure when people say I am like Ashwin. In fact, I feel good about it, but then (I know) I have a long way to go, there is a lot of time left," Himanshu added.
The Akola-born cricketer got a chance to feature in the Mumbai playing XI against Odisha after all-rounder Tanush Kotian was picked in the India A team for the tour to Australia on the back of some highly consistent performances.