Kuldeep Yadav is good like Brad Hogg: Erapalli Prasanna

08/28/2016

Spin legend Erapalli Prasanna has compared chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav to Australian spinner Brad Hogg after the youngster’s heroics in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. The 21-year-old from Uttar Pradesh took six wickets in the second innings for India Red to defeat India Green in the opening match.

Although Kuldeep burst on to the scene in the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup, where he took a hat-trick against Scotland, the domestic career of the youngster has been far from impressive. In fact, before his heroics in the Duleep Trophy, where he picked up six wickets in the second innings and nine wickets in total, Kuldeep did not even had a five-wicket haul to his name. But, in an era when T20 performances are revered more than the ones in the longer format, Kuldeep made it to the Indian ODI squad for the ODI matches against West Indies in 2014. However, salary disputes between the West Indies Cricket Board and their players brought an end to the series mid-way, and the youngster’s chance of making his debut also slipped away with it.

After almost two years, Kuldeep is once again back in the limelight after his tremendous performance in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, which is being played under the lights with the pink ball. His heroics with the ball earned him praise from spin legend Erapalli Prasanna, and the 76-year-old believes that the selectors should keep an eye on the chinaman bowler.

He is good like Brad Hogg. He certainly adds to the variety and the selectors can certainly look at him as an option."

Erapalli Prasanna

"I saw him bowling in the Duleep Trophy match the other day. He is good like Brad Hogg. He certainly adds to the variety and the selectors can certainly look at him as an option," Prasanna said, reported Cricbuzz.

With India scheduled to play 13 Test matches at home in the next seven months, Kuldeep’s variety could earn him a spot in the Indian team.

Former Indian left-arm spinner and selector Venkatpati Raju also praised Kuldeep’s performance, and said that the improved performance of spinners is good news for Indian cricket.

"India have a long season ahead of them. If more spinners start performing like this, it is good news for Indian cricket.

"If the bowling combination can help the captain get those 20 wickets quickly, I don't think anyone will mind," Raju said.

India Red will face India Blue in the second match of the Duleep Trophy on Monday (August 29).