With chances of playing not coming regularly for Kuldeep Yadav and other spinners ahead of him in the pecking order, it is important for the chinaman spinner to make the limited chances count, and the so far he has not disappointed.
He was included in the last Test of the three-match series against Sri Lanka and impressed immediately by taking five wickets. There were speculations that he would get ample chances in the following ODI series after Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were rested.
However, the team preferred Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal in the first three games. Kuldeep was included in the last two games, and he once again made a mark by picking up three scalps.
The left-arm spinner was then included in the one-off T20I on Wednesday (September 6), and he proved his worth with a decisive spell. Sri Lanka’s top-order batsmen were running away with the match before he changed the course of the game with his economical spell, ending with the figures of two for 20 in his quota of four overs. India went on to win the game by seven wickets to complete a 9-0 ‘tour-sweep’.
Speaking after the match, the youngster sounded happy and expressed his delight over getting the chances in the playing eleven.
“Till now it has been very challenging for me. I’m very happy with the team performance and individually also I am very happy. I got the chance in the last Test match to perform well, in ODIs I played the last two matches and performed well and in the T20 as well,” said Kuldeep. “As a player, you have to perform in every game. It’s a pressure game. Everyone has to contribute, especially when the captain and coach decide to rotate players. I am very happy with the policy; you have to give credit to captain and coach because the World Cup is coming and they wanted to try out everyone.”
Kuldeep further said partnering Chahal was a good experience for him. Both the wrist spinners turned the match in India’s favour by taking five quick wickets between them.
“It was good bowling with him. If two leg spinners are playing, then there is more opportunity to take wickets. In this match, we took five wickets together. So if two leg spinners are playing more chances come to take wickets if you bowl in partnerships. And it is also difficult for the batting side to score runs,” Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep concluded by appreciating captain Virat Kohli, calling him the leader who gives the bowler the freedom.
“He is an inspirational leader. He just leads from the front and gives you everything you want on the field. When I am bowling, he comes to me and asks ‘what’s your field’, and that’s what bowlers want. He gives bowlers freedom and Virat bhai has given me tremendous support through the Tests, ODI series and now too. So I am very happy with this kind of team unity and the leader,” Kuldeep said.