If the fastest bowler in the world in women’s cricket ever needed a face, or an approval, this is it. The world always knew, and acknowledged her to be the quickest in the world, but post retirement from international cricket, at the age of 35, Shabnim Ismail has managed to become the FIRST FEMALE FAST BOWLER TO BREAK THE 130kph RECORDED SPEED BARRIER, a feat she achieved against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the second season of the WPL!

She’s broken many toes over the years, and now, she’s breaking myths of bowlers slowing down with age. Here she is, in an exclusive chat with mumbaiindians.com, talking about pace, the mutual admiration club with Jhulan Goswami, drawing inspiration from the OG Mumbai Indians bowler, Andre Nel, and nurturing a whole host of young seamers under her wide wings.

You said at the recent presser in jest that Jhulan Goswami, Mumbai Indians’ Mentor and Bowling Coach, keeps asking you try out her tips and break the 130kph mark.  The two of you have been absolutely legends of the game. What’s that one thing you’d have liked to steal from her bowling armoury? And what’s the kind of discussion the two of you have?

The one thing I would love to steal from Jhulan is her height. I always wish I was a bit taller so that I could get more speed. Although I’m one of the quickest in the world, if not the quickest. We just keep bouncing knowledge off each other in the nets. I told her things I want to achieve on this tour. She knows my game as well. It obviously helps having a legend like her on my side. Knowing the kind of person she is, she is always keen and always around me to help. She tells me to run a bit quicker. Yeah, (we are) two legends of the game, and I am happy to be working with her in the Mumbai Indians team.

You have always carried the tag of being the fastest bowler in the world. Traditionally, as players get older, their pace drops, but you’ve still managed to be the fastest. What is it that you’ve done differently from the rest of the world?

People say when you get older your pace drops, but I firmly don’t believe in that. I just think for me, it is more the mental side of the game, the things I do off the field, things I do behind the scenes. From a young age I wanted to be one of the quickest in the world, and I believe I still am. I keep doing the hard yards, doing all the explosive training, and it just happens that I am the quickest in the world. I am still enjoying it.

Age is just a number and I still want to run in and bowl as quick as I can. No matter how old I become, I will choose whether I want to become slower or whether I want to manage my body and bowl as quick as I can. But I am still loving bowling as quick as I can and taking wickets everywhere I go around the world.

You’ve spoken in the past about how Andre Nel was an inspiration for you in the early parts of your career. Now he was a part of the OG Mumbai Indians squad in 2008. Could you tell us the qualities you’ve imbibed in your game from him?

Andre Nel is the reason I have the number 89 on my jersey. He had that number. A lot of people think that was the year I was born, but I was born in 1988. From a young age, I always watched Andre and the way he would have a go at batters. I wanted that quality in me. I wanted that aggression and that positive side. I always wanted to be like him. I have seen him bowl bouncers to batters and obviously, tease batters as well. Those were the qualities I imbibed and that is something I carry on my shoulder. A lot of people also don’t understand how off the field I am such a soft person and then how on the field I just go hard and try to get the job done for my team. But that’s just me in a nutshell.

You said Jintimani Kalita is someone who reminds you of your younger self.  Tell us more about her and your role in mentoring her?

When I got here for the first time, Jinti was one of the bowlers I wanted to take under my wing. She always comes to me for help and keeps asking me how she can get better. Even in the nets today, she came to me and said she wanted to learn the inswinger. I just tweaked a few things and she is bowling it well now. There are different ways of coaching, but if a player is eager to learn and wants to know something, I am always going to be there without stepping on anyone’s toes.

Everywhere I go around the world, I like to take the young fast bowlers under my wing and make sure I can nurture them so that they can go out in the middle and execute their skills. I like to think about the mental side of things, what young female fast bowlers do under pressure. A lot of people ask me why I never look like I am under pressure. But I tell them, ‘see I am always under pressure’. But the mental side of the game kicks in. You always need a calm mind as a fast bowler when the adrenaline goes up. That is one of the key things for my success while playing for South Africa and all around the world.

Issy Wong is someone who’s keenly been following you around in the MI camp. You said, “your success is her success, and vice versa”. Talk us about your bond and the advice you’ve been passing on to her.

Issy Wong is one who loves learning, exactly the same as Jinti. I always say, ‘her success is my success’. I believe in playing for the team. It is a team sport and it is about working hand in hand with the next bowler. Knowing that they can come to you whether things go well or not is something I enjoy. Wongi loves learning from me. She keeps asking me questions in the nets. I just love working with fast bowlers all around the world. I love it when they come to me and ask me questions and pick my brain. That is what I am here for. I love making sure the youngsters are happy and in a position to execute their skills.