The best part is that Chahal and I back each other, reveals Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has enjoyed a breakthrough season that saw him and compatriot Yuzvendra Chahal claim a total of 33 wickets in the six ODI’s versus South Africa. Kuldeep has insisted that he is ready for any challenge that comes his way as he prepares for India’s tour of England later this year.
Kuldeep Yadav, still just 23, has more or less cemented his spot in the Indian ODI team as he seems to have the full backing of skipper Virat Kohli throughout the tour of South Africa, which saw the Indians cruise to a historic 5-1 series win versus the hosts. During the six ODI matches, the wrist spinning duo of Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up a record 33 wickets in the Rainbow nation to help the visitors beat the hosts.
Their deadly combo has earned rave reviews from all over the cricketing world, and Indian skipper Virat Kohli has also backed his spinners to perform well on the international stage in the long run. Kuldeep was quick to add that his chemistry off the pitch with Chahal is what made them a formidable duo.
“I have played a lot of cricket with Chahal. In limited-overs cricket, it is important to bowl in partnerships. The middle overs are crucial. Our plan has always been to plot breakthroughs. The best part is that we back each other. There is no pressure or any sense of competition.
“We keep talking all the time. We talk about field placements, how to read a particular batsman’s mind and place a fielder for him at a suitable position, These conversations happen during matches as well as at the nets. The more we bowl in partnership, it gets easy,” said Kuldeep in an interview to The Hindu.
Kuldeep is tipped to be picked for the upcoming tours to England and Australia later this year, as the young Indian side led by the passionate Virat Kohli
“I never think that much. The England tour will be challenging but I don’t want to take that pressure now. I will think about it after the IPL,” added Yadav.
Kuldeep is one of the players to return to his old franchise after the auctions in Bangalore, where the Royal Challengers Bangalore thought they had secured his signature only for Kolkata Knight Riders to use their RTM card to get Yadav back for a price of ₹5.80 crores.
“I was fortunate to have spent time with Brad Hogg in the KKR camp in the initial years. He taught me the wrong ’uns and told me a lot about variations in this style and how it could be implemented. I also worked hard with my coach, Kapil Pandey, and Narendra Hirwani,” added Yadav in the interview.