Kuldeep Yadav is expected to play in the upcoming two-Test series between Sri Lanka and India.
Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane talked about the career of ace left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Yadav had made his India Test debut in 2017 against Australia under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy.
Yadav will be a key bowler for India in the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka. Yadav is one of the four spinners, including Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Saransh Jain. He is expected to be one of the biggest wicket-taking options for captain Shubman Gill, especially in the absence of pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Rahane said that the wrist spinner had developed his game considerably over the past few years but was unfortunate to not get a sustained run in the team.
“I think Kuldeep has developed his game over the last four or five years. He has worked on his speed in the air. It is tough for any player who is in and out of the playing XI because cricket is all about rhythm, whether you are batting or bowling,” Rahane said in the Indian Express’ ‘Idea Exchange.'
“Kuldeep is a quality spinner. That is why I backed him in Dharamsala. I knew he was a wicket-taker. Even though he was inexperienced at the time, I believed throwing him into that situation would help, because I was confident he would perform. You need to back your players, especially when they are match-winners. It is not easy when you play one Test and then sit out the next four or five. Rhythm is very important, particularly for bowlers,” he added.
Rahane said that while he was happy to see Kuldeep's bowling skills grow, it was difficult for him to not have regular opportunities to demonstrate his abilities.
“Every day, the ball doesn’t come out of your hand the same way. By playing continuously, you gradually find that rhythm and perform consistently. I am really happy with Kuldeep’s improvement. Whenever he got opportunities in white-ball cricket, he did really well. He is much more confident now. At the same time, it is tough for him because he has not consistently got enough opportunities,” he said.
Despite having been part of Test cricket since 2017, Kuldeep has played only 18 Tests, taking 79 wickets with a best bowling of 5/40.