Atul Sharma speaks!
Buy the June issue of SPIN featuring an exclusive seven-page interview and photo shoot with Atul Sharma here.
After all the buzz on internet forums, and even people doubting his existence, Atul Sharma is still undercover and not talking to anyone. Not bad considering he is in the Rajasthan Royals squad and the IPL is over halfway through. The 23-year-old fast bowler was signed by the Royals because he can bowl at speeds up to 100mph despite not having played a game for seven years.
In the meantime he has overcome a serious injury and then worked with a top javelin coach, as well as maverick English pace coach Ian Pont, in the US to develop an action – and a body – more related to athletics techniques than traditional cricket techniques. An action that has – don’t worry – been fully approved already by the Australian Insitiute of Sport, cricket’s high court of right and wrong (previous attendees: Shoaib Akhtar, Murali). Sharma spent time there in December, bowling to Shane Watson and being assessed by Greg Chappell.
As we write he is awaiting final clearance from IPL doctors to finally join up with the team. Even if it doesn’t happen for him in this IPL, Sharma would appear to be on the verge of something rather big…
SPIN Are you ready for all the attention you’re going to get?
Atul Sharma Yes I am. That’s the thing. There’ll be a lot of media. There’ll be a lot of interest because of what I’m doing. People really want to see a real tearaway quick bowler in India, which they haven’t up until now. I’m ready for it. I’m not going to say I’m going to bowl 100mph in my first IPL match – because if I’m accurate but not quick I’ll get criticism and vice versa. It’s all got to come together, plus I haven’t played any competitive games so I’m coming from total obscurity.
I don’t want to set myself up to fail. The idea is that when people see me they’ll know I have the potential to bowl fast… But I’m not here to please people: I started this journey on my own without backhanders or the IPL: there wasn’t that much money in cricket when I started. I didn’t do it for money or public acclaim.
SPIN What kind of speeds have you been bowling?
Sharma Well, if someone’s going to go over 100mph this year, it will be me. But right now I’m probably clocking high-90s or something like that. I’ve been measured at over 100mph but that was in a javelin situation, where they were measuring my arm speed and we weren’t worrying about actually landing the ball!
But it’s only a matter of time: it might happen in the IPL or it might happen next year but I know I have the fuel in the tank to bowl 100mph. If it happens it won’t be a big shock.
Buy the June issue of SPIN to read the full exclusive seven-page interview and photo shoot with Atul Sharma here.
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Indians can only dream of producing tearaway quicks. We pakistanis show them the way and Atul Sharma will be nowhere as quick as our Sohail Khan, Talha and Mohammad Aamer.
Your so called tearaway fast bowlers could not beat a third string australian side and struggled against the likes of lanka.So plz shut up and go back to saj mahmoods shit website
I think there has been too much of a stealth publicity in the name of not wanting publicity. Though I did believe Pont at first about how he didn’t want any publicity as it would put Atul under pressure, it is getting more ridiculous by the day. For example, how difficult is it really for Atul or Pont to come out and say ‘Hey look, this is how serious the injury is and he will MOST PROBABLY not play in this IPL’ or ‘I think he SHOULD be fit to play in the last 3 matches and no sooner but of course, the final decision is in the hands of RR’. I think the entire episode has started showing shades of being a bit of a publicity stunt for Pont and MCI. I just hope I am proved wrong! Chances, though, appear slimmer seeing what’s transpiring every passing day.
Publicity stunt, nothin’ else. I just hope Indian fans haven’t got their hopes up too high like before (Munaf, VRV, Sreesanth etc.) . They are just trying to cash in as much as they can, before he is finally made to bowl in a match or two, and people realise how big of a joke this guy or Mr. Pont are.
I wouldn’t send my cat to Mr. Pont to learn anything. He has turned himself into a joke with all of this.
Well Pakistanis and other nations have already produced bowlers who used to bowl in mid 90s with “proper action”. If this guy bowls with a different action somewhat like a javelin thrower then well anyone can bowl at 90-100mph with that throwing action. You just need big muscles and javelin training for that. If he bowls with a proper smooth bowling action and bowls 100 mph consistently only then he will be a real deal, but knowing he’s Indian, hopes shouldn’t be set high as they always have been disappointing when it comes to fast bowling.
It’s just a media hype to catch the attention of the people.It’s interesting to see the guy who even does’nt play any nationa or international cricket, how long will survive in the cricket.Some years back the same atmosphere was created for the munaf patel and now he is bowling at a pace of 132 km/hr.In the video he looks like going for the wrestling inspite of cricket practice.You can see the same in the training video of wrestler video of Brock Lesner the wrestler.Leaving the things behind we are eagerly waiting for him to play for country.because we always lacks good fast bowlers it is interesting to watch him.
go atul go …indias is waiting for our next hero …..you….. …..
Atul dont loose heart, just go for it, we in india are with you, jai ho
I can see why this publicity is coming now. He’s been secretly training and the media are finding that out. RR must have been impressed with him to sign him. Let us wait and seee for ourselves. The article is more about how he got to the IPL and not what he’s going to do in it I don’t think. Sharma and Pont are smart because I wouldn’t have wanted anything written ahead of being ready to perform. He looks different and the story is a great one for the press, let’s give him a chance.
People have got to stop having a go at Ian Pont. I mean for goodness sake he transformed dale steyn from an erratic high 80’s (mph) bowler in to a 90 mph + bowler who is ridiculously accurate. Personally, I have tried out this javelin run up style and my bowling was clocked 15 mph faster than my average of 55 mph ( I am 14 so I’m not a ridiculously slow adult fast bowler). Theonly problem was the strain which is why Atul has to be so ridiculously muscular to cope with it and the accuracy was difficult to reign in. Only time will tell whether Atul can cope at the top level but whether he makes it or not Ian Pont is an incredible coach regardless.
Good JOB Arun Sharma .Hopefully You Will Come hard, as fast as you can
and so give reply your critics for what you capable of;
1 - Shoaib akhtar (all time- fastest) 161.3 kmph
2 - Brett lee (all time- fastest) 160.8 kmph
3- Shaun tait (all time- fastest) 160 kmph
4 -AND YOU (AS A STARTER ) ( 169 KMPH — OH YOU BEAUTY ) ATUL SHARMA
WORLD IS WAITING FOR CHANGE. GOOD LUCK
Shoaib Akhtar and Brett lee Getting older .They are now no longer (Fast Bowler)
now .They were Ex-Dominaters of this field .They are like now just fast medium pacers. Future is rising for two powers .That will be (Shaun -Tait )verus (Atul Sharma). My Money on Atul.
I dont know why all these pakistanis are always in envy with us, why cant these ppl accept someone who can bowl quick from anyother land beyond their country?, as alway we enjoyed watching the pace bowling of waqar, akram and shoaib, but these pakistanis cant even tollerate to know about someone who can bowl fast.. ATUL we are with u, we would love to see u in action, go for it ATUL… jai ho
Atul sharma!! i love all the hype that is created around you. For all the people talking negative about him, are just too worried if he really does ball that fast. If he does or not…. its yet to see.. but when he does come and ball that fast, trust me INDIA is gonna rule each and everywhere!!!
what rubbish since 10 years pakistan has not pruduced any fast bowler, all of these guys you named are not even quite medium phaast, pakistan does not have one single fast bowler