Bangalore teenager gives tips to Kevin Pietersen

Local Bangalore offie Adarsh says even Harbhajan appreciated his bowling

Local Bangalore offie Adarsh says even Harbhajan appreciated his bowling

Kevin Pietersen yesterday received tips to improve his part-time off spinners from an unlikely source: a local Under-19 bowler who bamboozled him while batting in the nets.

Kevin Pietersen takes bowling tips from local lad Adarsh Shivalingaiah during England's practice session in Bangalore yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK

Adarsh Hosalli Shivalingaiah, a Karnataka State Cricket Association academy player, beat Pietersen twice and even got him out stumped on a soft pitch that usually offered minimal turn.

So impressed was the hard-hitting batsman with the amount of turn the youngster generated that after his batting session, he walked up to the lad and told him, "show me how you grip the ball. You're getting so much turn!"

"I showed him the grip and how I release it. My grip is always very tight. I use my wrist and middle finger to get maximum turn," Adarsh told MiD DAY later.

Adarsh also caught the eye of India star Harbhajan Singh before the India-England game. "Harbhajan told me I have a bright future," he said.

Later, Pietersen was then seen practising what he had just picked from the teenager and seemed to control the ball better. Before leaving the nets, Pietersen acknowledged the youngster's talent. "You bowled very well.

I'll definitely remember you," he told Adarsh. "I'm very happy that he asked about my bowling. While batting, he said at least five to six times, 'well bowled'. It's a nice feeling," theu00a0youngster said.