Q: I hold a tennis ball with my thumb and middle finger and like sodukku in tamil snap my fingers. The ball turns based on the direction i snap. What is it called in professional cricket
Ans:(by AI) What you are doing is the exact definition of a Carrom Ball.
In Tamil Nadu, where you’re playing, it’s colloquially known as the “Sodukku Ball” (Finger-snap ball). In professional international cricket, it was given the name “Carrom Ball” because the middle-finger flicking action is identical to how a player strikes a striker in the game of Carrom.
The Mechanics: From “Sodukku” to Professional
While you are using a tennis ball, the transition to professional cricket (with a leather ball) works like this:
* The Grip: You grip the ball between the thumb, index, and a “cocked” middle finger.
* The Snap: By “snapping” or flicking that middle finger, you generate a high-speed rotation.
* The Direction: * If you flick it outward (towards the off-side for a right-hander), it turns away like a leg-break.
* If you flick it downward/straight, it acts as a “top-spinner” that bounces extra high and skids through.
Why the “Sodukku” is so famous in India
The reason you likely know this technique is because of the Chennai connection.
* The Origin: Many street cricketers in Chennai perfected the “Sodukku” style using light tennis balls or “tape balls,” where the flick generates incredible turn.
* The Legend: Ravichandran Ashwin, who grew up playing club cricket in Chennai, adapted this “Sodukku” technique from the streets and refined it into a lethal weapon in Test and IPL cricket.
* The Mystery: Before Ashwin, Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) shocked the world with it. He learned it while playing for the Sri Lankan Army teams, using that same finger-snap.
How to take it from Local to “Pro” level
If you are already doing this with a tennis ball, you have the “knack.” To make it effective in a club game with a leather ball, keep these two things in mind:
* Finger Strength: A leather ball is much heavier (156g to 163g) than a tennis ball. You will need to build up the strength in your middle finger to get that same “snap” without hurting your joint.
* The “Hiding” of the Ball: Professionals like Ashwin will use their non-bowling hand to hide the grip until the very last second, so the batter doesn’t see the “Sodukku” setup coming.
> Fun Fact: In Tamil Nadu, if you tell a coach you want to bowl a “Carrom ball,” they’ll immediately know you mean the “Sodukku” delivery!
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One can watch video online and practice with a tennis ball at home.