IPL 9: Paul Adams' advice to Shivil Kaushik - Mystery will wear off, plan well

Paul Adams and Shivil Kaushik

Former South Africa spinner Paul Adams has heard about Shivil Kaushik, the 20-year-old left-arm spinner, who like him, has a similar mysterious bowling action.

Just like Adams: GL's Shivil Kaushik against Kings XI Punjab. Pic/AFP

Kaushik was compared to Adams by TV commentators when he bowled on his Indian Premier League debut for Gujarat Lions against Rising Pune Supergiants on Friday.

Forty-year-old Adams said over the phone from South Africa: "I have heard about Kaushik. He has used his uniqueness and turned it into a positive.

SA's Paul Adams. Pic/Getty Images

"It's been about a decade since I last played and there will be a lot of players out there who would never have seen it (an unusual action) before. It will be nice to have a chat with him and hear about his journey.

"He is a mysterious bowler because of his different action. Most players don't get to face that type of bowling, so it takes time to read what the bowler is trying to do. His bowling action is unusual. Facing something different will always be tough. He needs to become consistent. So my advice to him would be, ‘the mystery will wear off and you will need to have plans and understand the best way to take wickets with what you've got'."

After making his Test debut against England in 1995-96, Adams played in India during the Ahmedabad Test of Nov 1996 when he dismissed opener Sanjay Manjrekar just before lunch on Day One of the opening Test.

Manjrekar was bowled for 34 while attempting a cut shot. In the second innings, Adams trapped debutant VVS Laxman LBW for 51 before dismissing tailenders Venkatesh Prasad and Narendra Hirwani.

Adams remarked: "The fact that batsmen were more worried about the action than watching the ball was an advantage for me. I would like to wish him all the best and hope to meet him someday."