From Red-Ball Wilderness to India A: How Zeeshan Ansari is Refining His Leg-Spin Craft
For a cricketer, six years away from the traditional format can feel like an eternity. For Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, the transition back to red-ball cricket after a long hiatus proved to be a steep learning curve. After playing his last Ranji Trophy game in January 2020, the 26-year-old found himself heavily accustomed to the white-ball dynamics of T20 leagues, making his recent return to first-class cricket a testing experience.
A Challenging Comeback
The Lucknow-born spinner’s return to the fold came via a surprise selection for the India A tour of Sri Lanka. While his figures in Galle—conceding 76 runs in the first innings and 29 in a four-over spell in the second—did not result in a fairytale start, Ansari views the tour as an essential step in his professional evolution.
“It was a good learning experience. I played red-ball cricket after so many years, and I got to learn a lot,” Ansari said. “The Sri Lankan batters are excellent players of spin, and bowling with the Kookaburra ball for the first time was a completely different challenge.”
Resilience and Mentorship
Ansari’s journey began with promise, highlighted by a stellar 40-wicket performance in the 2014-15 Cooch Behar Trophy, which paved the way for his 2016 U-19 World Cup selection and an impressive Ranji debut under Suresh Raina. However, the subsequent years saw him drift into the wilderness, playing only four matches between 2017 and 2020.
His resurgence this year, which included a stint as a net bowler for the Test against Afghanistan, brought him into contact with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. The encounter proved to be a significant turning point.
“Gautam sir just told me that I am doing well and should keep bowling like this,” Ansari recalled. “There is nothing else to think about. Just keep performing. It was a good conversation, and it boosted my confidence.”
Evolving the Craft
Ansari credits his recent exposure in the IPL—where he represents Sunrisers Hyderabad—and the India A setup for helping him refine his technical approach. He has realized that success in the longer format requires more than just natural talent; it demands tactical adjustments.
“I’ve realized that I need to bowl a little slower and put more revolutions on the ball,” he explained. “Repetition is the most important thing for a leg-spinner. I have practiced so much that I am now able to bring variations into my googlies as well.”
The UPT20 League Turning Point
While international and IPL exposure provided the polish, Ansari is quick to credit the UP T20 League for saving his career when his prospects looked bleak.
“I wasn’t playing much cricket and my name wasn’t known anywhere,” he admitted. “In the first season of the league, I won the Purple Cap with 24 wickets, and that’s when people started recognizing me again.”
Now, at 26, with the selectors keeping a close watch on his progress, Zeeshan Ansari is no longer wandering in the shadows. Armed with a renewed technical plan and the backing of national team management, he is poised to make a consistent impact in the domestic circuit and beyond.
