New Delhi, Jan 19 (NDTV) : Ambidextrous bowlers are a rarity in the world of cricket. Akshay Karnewar of Vidarbha has that talent and he put that to good effect in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty tournament.

Karnewar can bowl off-spin and he can bowl left-arm spin with equal efficiency. With this rare ability, he recently surprised one and all during the national Twenty20 tournament.

The 23-year-old Karnewar began as a right-arm offspinner, when he started playing cricket as the age of 13. A left-hander by birth, Karnewar was doing everything with his left arm but bowling. However, his then coach Balu Navghare encouraged him to try bowling with his left arm.

"When I was 13, my coach Balu Navghare asked me if I can bowl with my left arm. Since then I have been using both my arms," Karnewar told NDTV.

Karnewar, who took almost two years to feel comfortable with his freakish ability to bowl with both arms, further says he changes arms according to the situation.

"My intent is always to pick up wickets. I first watch how the batsmen is playing and then decide if I have to really use both my arms to take his wicket. Sometimes, I don't need to," he told NDTV.