IPL 2022: Training Sessions With Mohammed Shami During Lockdown Helped "Gentle Giant" Mohsin Khan

When Imran Khan, a young aspiring first-class cricketer took his younger brother Mohsin to Badruddin Siddiqui for guidance, the coach didn't know what to make of the short and slight player from Moradabad's Sambhal area. With eight wickets from four games, Mohsin is the latest among the group of rookie pacers, who have started making waves in this year's IPL. Badruddin is one of the well-known grassroots level coaches in UP, having groomed the versatile Mohammed Shami during his initial years.

"It was more than a decade back when Mohsin's elder brother Imran used to come to my academy. By then Shami had moved to Kolkata and was playing Ranji Trophy.

"It was Imran who told me that his younger Mohsin is interested and if he could bring him for training," Badruddin recollected after his ward took 4/16, including wickets of David Warner, Rishabh Pant and Rovman Powell to win it for Lucknow Super Giants.

Badruddin remembers that initially Mohsin was like any other 13-year-old, who would at times be a tad inattentive.

"Kids of that age would be like that. Suddenly, he is bowling and next moment I see him padded up and taking guard. He would get scolded by me but if I am honest, 10 years back, I never felt seeing his physique that he could become a potent fast bowler," the coach said.

"However, his height shot up in a year and he became six feet tall. His game went to a different level and he started working hard with full focus," the coach said.

Multan Khan, a retired cop with UP Police had full faith in Badruddin since he was Shami's coach and left it entirely on him to guide his son.

"Imran unfortunately couldn't continue and later cleared state government exam and is now employed. But their father left all cricketing