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UAE's Simarjeet Joins The List; Overseas Bowlers Who Have Worked With Indian Stars In The Past

Abhinav Tyagi

Haris Rauf and Virat Kohli - (Source : @Johns/X.com)Haris Rauf and Virat Kohli - (Source : @Johns/X.com)

The seventeenth edition of the Asia Cup 2025 is set to start today, with Hong Kong locking horns against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. It is a great occasion for the associate nations to silence the heavyweights and shine at the continental tournament.

The likes of the UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong are on a mission to steal the limelight. Talking about the associate nations, their spinner Simarjeet Singh, who has his origins in India, has already made his intention, which is to play top-class cricket.

Notably, Simarjeet started his cricketing journey in Punjab, India and recalled the time he bowled to present India Test captain in the nets during Gill's initial phase in his career.

Meanwhile, this article will look at the players from other countries who have worked as India's net bowlers in the nets, but will now lock horns against the Men in Blue.

1. Simarjeet Singh - UAE

The 35-year-old left-arm spinner, Simranjeet Singh, who is now part of the UAE national team, and take part in the upcoming Asia Cup,  has a surprising connection with India’s batting star Shubman Gill.

The spinner revealed that he started his career at Punjab Cricket Association Academy in Mohali and dreamt of playing for India. However, Singh added that he used to bowl to Shubman Gill in the nets, when the present India Test captain was just 12-year-old.

2. Haris Rauf - Pakistan

For the unversed, Pakistan's Haris Rauf served as India's net bowler during the 2018-19 India tour of Australia. Haris Rauf was called up as a net bowler for Team India to help them prepare against pace bowling and fine-tune their skills ahead of Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Rauf recently recalled bowling to then Indian captain Virat Kohli, describing how intense and focused Kohli was even in net practice sessions.

3. Ibrar Ahmad Dawar - UAE

During India's 2025 Champions Trophy preparations, a UAE net bowler was seen bowling to Virat Kohli in the nets. The bowler's name was Ibrar Ahmad Dawar who was last seen playing in the ILT20 for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. 

The 20-year-old UAE-based bowler had taken four wickets from the seven matches he played with the best figures of 2/27 which he took against the Gulf Giants getting big scalps of James Vince and Jordan Cox. Virat Kohli was also impressed with Ibrar’s bowling where he displayed some great pace while bowling to the India stalwart.