In a recent revelation, former Indian fast bowler Praveen Kumar acknowledged that ball-tampering was once a widespread practice among players. He specifically pointed out that Pakistan bowlers were known to engage in it more than others to enhance their proficiency in reverse swing, a technique that became a potent weapon for fast bowlers in the 1990s.

Pakistan’s fast bowlers were particularly renowned for their mastery of this skill. Speaking in an interview with Lallantop, Praveen Kumar disclosed that scratching the ball from one side was a common method employed for reverse swing.

However, he emphasized that even after tampering with the ball, the key lay in possessing the requisite skill to effectively implement reverse swing in one’s bowling.

ALSO READ: Mohammed Shami Set To Miss Initial Tests Against England Due To Lingering Ankle Injury

“Everyone does a little bit; they (Pakistan bowlers) do it a bit more. That’s what I’ve heard. Now, there are cameras everywhere. Earlier, everyone used to do it. And everyone knows as well. They would scratch it from one side. But you need to know how to use that skill, too. If I scratch the ball and give it to someone, one will need to have the skills to reverse-swing it. One has to learn that,” Praveen Kumar explained during the interview.

On a different note, Indian cricket fans received exciting news as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made a high-profile comeback to the T20 squad for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan.

Rohit Sharma was also named the captain for the series, scheduled to kick off in Mohali on January 11. Both Rohit and Kohli had last featured in a T20 for India during the World Cup semifinal against England in November 2022.

ALSO READ: Heinrich Klaasen Announces Emotional Retirement From Red-Ball Cricket

At that time, the experienced duo, along with KL Rahul, had adopted a more conventional approach during the powerplay, prompting a need for a strategic shift with Hardik Pandya designated as the new T20 skipper. However, Pandya’s own injury during the ODI World Cup, coupled with Suryakumar Yadav’s recent ligament tear, led to a lack of experience at the top of the batting order.