IPL 2019 | Gautam Gambhir wanted to make me a player who will have long career, reveals Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has said that Gautam Gambhir had a big influence during the former’s initial years in KKR as the previous skipper wanted Yadav to have a long cricket career. The left-armer has also added that the experience of handling pressure in the league helps to do the same for the national side.
Kuldeep has been a part of the IPL playing for Kolkata Knight Riders ever since his debut in the league in 2016. However, he had played for the franchise in 2014 Champions League even before his maiden IPL game. The left-arm unorthodox bowler had made his maiden appearance for the side under the captaincy of Gambhir. Now, the bowler has opened up saying that it was Gambhir who wanted to make him a player having a long career so had asked him to wait for a couple of years after playing in the Champions League.
“Gauti Bhai gave me the confidence that I’d play all matches and wouldn’t get dropped even if I didn’t perform to KKR’s expectations. Gauti Bhai wanted me to become a player
“I don’t make them public. I set targets in every series or every edition of the IPL... To be honest, I set targets I can achieve and, then, push myself to go beyond... I see people tend to get satisfied rather easily and early in whatever they’re doing. I’m not one of them.”
When the Uttar Pradesh bowler was asked about the batsmen who he finds it difficult to bowl to, he replied, “Steve Smith in the only Test I bowled to him [on debut]... Then, in the recent ODIs against Australia, Usman Khawaja batted very well against me and sowed doubts in my mind... I discussed that with [his childhood coach Kapil] Pandey Sir when I went home for a few days after the series... Khawaja plays spin rather well... I was told what I ought to have done and Pandey Sir’s tips will indeed come in handy the next time I bowl to Khawaja.”
With the 50-over World Cup coming up next after the IPL, Kuldeep has stressed on the fact that the matches and pressure situations in the league will help him prepare well for the international games. He also said about handling pressure in the IPL and how it is helpful in international cricket.
“IPL not only matures you,
Cricket FootBall Kabaddi
Basketball Hockey
SportsCafe
