Bishan Singh Bedi Feels Kuldeep Yadav Should Focus On The Longer Format

Kuldeep Yadav could be described as the find of the year for Indian cricket as he has picked up 27 wickets in only 2 Test matches and 11 One Day Internationals in 2017. The find for a left-arm wrist spinner seems to have ended for the Indian team with Yadav’s recent exploit against the Aussies. Kuldeep Yadav has been a sensation ever since he made a place for himself in the Indian squad, and has been a regular in the team since making his debut against Australia in Dharamsala earlier this year.

Many former and current players have spoken in his favour and have praised him for his skills. He came into limelight when he took a hat-trick in the second ODI against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. However, with so much cricket being played former Indian skipper and legendary left-arm spinner, Bishen Singh Bedi is worried that a rare talent like Yadav should not be exploited in the limited overs format.

Bedi said,

“Kuldeep is a rare species and I’m very fond of the kid. I don’t, however, think that those who matter have a vision for him. I say that because I believe Kuldeep shouldn’t be playing the ODIs and T20Is, but only Test cricket. Certainly at this stage of his career Kuldeep is enjoying himself, which is good, but he’s no more than 22. He’s a kid, who needs to be guided by men with vision. A left-arm chinaman bowler is rare, so preserve and protect Kuldeep,”

Bedi feels that Kuldeep should focus more on the longer format and improve his skills and instead of playing the ODI series against New Zealand he should be playing in the Ranji Trophy. He said,

“If Kuldeep gets 10 overs and four overs only, he’s being made to bowl for a limited purpose. His thinking is getting limited. Instead of being fielded against Australia and, now, against New Zealand Kuldeep should have been playing in the Ranji Trophy and bowling long spells. Generally speaking, one big problem in recent years is that players get selected for India on the strength of their IPL performances. That ought not to be so. We should look to prepare good Test cricketers. They can play ODIs and T20Is. Not T20I and ODI players being made to play Test cricket.”

“A good Test cricketer is capable of delivering in all formats. But that wouldn’t hold true for somebody who is good at the T20 level. The Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy, which was turned into a farce this season, ought to be tournaments where performances really count not a T20 league.”