Citing small boundary dimensions and the make-up of the side, bowling coach Kyle Mills justified wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav's absence from the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) playing XI in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
Kuldeep hasn't played the last two matches of the campaign against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and after the win over CSK in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (October 7), Mills stressed on the factors going against the spinner's inclusion in the side.
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"Kuldeep is one of the best spinners in the world. But just with the make-up of the group at the moment and the size of grounds, it's the reason we went for this XI today and Kuldeep was left out," said Mills at the post-match press conference, as quoted by PTI.
Kuldeep struggled last season and bowled only nine overs in the first three games of the IPL 2020 before being left out. Considered his replacement, unorthodox tweaker Varun Chakravarthy (1/28), who had another productive outing in the 10-run victory over CSK, has only made Kuldeep's return difficult.
"I guess competition is good, isn't it? We've got a very big squad, a very competitive squad for certain spots within the group; and Kuldeep has missed out the last two games but he has presence within the group. He is still giving to the team," said Mills.
"We have a team culture and a team perspective within the group, and this was asked of the players, and it's not easy for any cricketer to miss out on the starting XI."
"But Kuldeep is training the house down. He wants to get back into the starting XI, so competition within the group is certainly aiding our performance on the park," he added.
Mills then lauded opener Rahul Tripathi, who grabbed the chance at the top of the order, his much-preferred spot, with both hands and scored a fantastic 51-ball 81 in allowing KKR to post the fighting total of 167 on the night.
"He's been an example for young people who are fighting for a spot in the team. He's an example to everyone really. He's reaping the rewards from the last game," said Mills.
Tripathi's promotion meant a new role for Sunil Narine in the middle-order, but the veteran adjusted quite swiftly, playing a useful cameo of 17 runs in 9 deliveries before taking the regained confidence forward and delivering an impressive spell of 1/31 as KKR restricted CSK to just 157/5.
"As they say, a change is as good as a holiday... We have used him as a pinch-hitter; this hasn't quite worked for him at the top," Mills said. "So taking him down lower the order gave Tripathi an opportunity and he took that with both hands. Narine came in and played a little cameo, to be fair, and gave us a little bit of momentum at that time."
KKR, third in the points table after three wins in five outings, including two losses, next face Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Saturday (October 10).
