Ahmed credited Akram and Gambhir for the outstanding over he bowled against Pakistan

Newly recruited India pace bowler Shami Ahmed has attributed all the success he had during the limited overs series against arch-rivals Pakistan to opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and legendary seamer Wasim Akram.

Ahmed, who made his ODI debut during the third ODI in Delhi, picked up the wicket of Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal in the 48th over, in which he gave away no runs.

Ahmed revealed that Akram, who played for Pakistan from 1985 to 2003, had shown him how to make the white ball reverse swing late in the game, while Gambhir had explained the importance of maintaining a consistent line and length when bowling to top order batsmen.

“The small things that he’s [Akram] taught me have made me a better bowler,” Ahmed said. “Things like bowling with the old ball, reversing it and maintaining it, which line to bowl when you’re trying to reverse-swing the ball. He’s taught me a lot when it comes to using the white ball.

“As an opening batsman, Gauti Bhai [Gambhir] keeps telling me what a new ball should do to trouble the batsman. Every time I bowl to him in the nets [while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders] he doesn’t only concentrate on his batting. He makes it a point to give me honest feedback on every delivery, which helps me improve.”

If Ahmed’s performance during this match and in the ODI series that followed against England is anything to go by, then India’s prayers for a masterful swing bowler could just have been answered.