The two Indian wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are dominating in the limited-overs international cricket. Their successful partnership has made it challenging for the senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to make their limited-overs return. However, the youngster Kuldeep Yadav doesn’t believe that they have ousted anyone.
Just a few years ago, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were playing the major spin-bowling roles for the national team. But at present, the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and the left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja are facing severe challenges in the national team.
The left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal are dominating in the world cricket. In the limited-overs international cricket, they are now the regular bowlers for India. Moreover, the team management is also looking forward to bring them into the regular Test cricket arena soon.
However, Kuldeep Yadav doesn’t believe that they have shut the door of two senior Indian spinners. He has pointed out that both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are playing Test cricket.
Ahead of the Nagpur ODI, Kuldeep Yadav told the reporters, “No, no, not at all. We haven’t ousted anyone. It’s just that we have got the opportunities and we did well. They (Ashwin and Jadeja) have always been doing well for India. In Test matches, Ash (Ravichandran Ashwin) and Jaddu Bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) are still playing.”
The 24-year-old Kuldeep Yadav further added that they learnt a lot from them, whenever they got an opportunity.
He added, “We learn a lot from them. They have a lot of experience. When I am in the Test squad, I learn a lot from them. Whenever we got an opportunity, for me and Chahal, we have performed for the team and that helped the team to win, so happy about it.
“To be honest, me, Chahal and Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) are playing really well so nothing much to worry about and we are focusing game by game.”
In Australia, Shaun Marsh was playing really well against me
Many experts believe that Kuldeep Yadav is an asset of the Indian national cricket team. The young spinner claimed that only a few players played him very well, but he had never felt any pressure to bowl any batsman.
Later, Kuldeep Yadav named the Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh who had recently played him very well. He further revealed how the team management utilised him to handle Shaun Marsh.
The Indian spinner said, “Shaun Marsh is a very good player of spin bowling. In Australia, Shaun Marsh was playing really well (against me) and they (team management) wanted to give me a break for a couple of games. After that I studied Marsh’s batting and saw him playing a lot of deliveries on the front-foot and it paid off. But it will be important how I bowl to him in the next game if he plays.”
Since his debut in international cricket in 2017, Kuldeep Yadav has played 14 matches against Australia. Out of those, seven were ODIs, five were T20Is, and two were the Tests. Playing many games against Australia, Kuldeep Yadav has admitted that it is easy to pick his bowling through the video analysis.
He added, “Of course, it been two years (now) I am playing international cricket and I have almost played 10-12 matches against Australia in the ODI format. Nowadays, video analysis is there, it is very easy to pick any bowler.”
Kuldeep Yadav is also focusing on his batting
To add more value to the national team, Kuldeep Yadav is also focusing on his batting. He is spending more time with the batting coach Sanjay Bangar to improve his batting skills.
Kuldeep Yadav said, “Of course, batting is important – be it in One Days or Test cricket. I am focussing more on batting, every session I am batting for 20 odd minutes. Batting becomes important in some of the close matches and I am working with Sanjay Sir (Assistant coach Sanjay Bangar).”
On Tuesday (5 March), India will meet against Australia in the second ODI of the ongoing five-match home series. It will be another day/night encounter while the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium (Nagpur) will host the match. At present, India is leading the series by 1-0 after winning the first ODI by six wickets at Hyderabad.