Kuldeep Yadav has been one bowler whose absence from the Indian playing XI in the New York leg of the T20 World Cup was criticized to a small extent by sections of people.
Despite being the best spinner across formats for India lately, this wrist spinner wasn’t given a chance in West Indies until slightly favorable spinning conditions arose than those we experienced in New York; however, Kuldeep understood the situation as explained by his coaches and kept hope alive before grabbing it with both hands upon going to West Indies.
The 2-32 against Afghanistan and 3-19 versus Bangladesh are results of how prepared he was mentally. The player admitted that though he would have loved to bowl at New York, he still felt part and parcel of all activities around him. “I wasn’t playing but I was the 12th man there. So, I helped my teammates with their drinks and that’s like playing. I didn’t bowl there but I would have loved to because it was more like pitches in Australia,” Kuldeep said after India’s comprehensive win against Bangladesh.
Back in 2017, it happened when he made his T20 debut on West Indies soil. Knowing what awaited him in Caribbean turned out to be a benefit. “I knew the condition very well –the length to bowl and the importance of varying the pace. It was perfect for the spinners to come here and bowl,” Kuldeep added.
When Kuldeep is about to bowl for India, what direction wind is coming from or other aspects do not matter much to him; instead, he focuses on length as well as outsmarting his opponent batsman(s). “I didn’t think about the wind, just the length mattered. And obviously reading the batter and what they are expecting from me. It is about just reading one step ahead what batters are thinking and reacting to it,” Kuldeep said.
Once he bowled a beautiful googly to Tanzid Hasan and the right-hander was all set to step back. And then, the ball turned in opposite direction as the batsman just before it reached its landing spot, resulting into Towhid Hridoy’s dismissal.
Kuldeep plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL and their home ground is Ferozeshah Kotla, which doesn’t exactly have tracks where spinners have an easy time. That is why he is so happy to be here after coming from there for T20 World Cup.
“IPL totally different, IPL experience is not same with what you are experiencing in T20 World Cup…For me wherever I play, I want to be more aggressive. It actually helped me in IPL; it’s helping me here also,” Kuldeep hopes ahead of Australia clash on Monday for his last Super-8 match of this tournament.
