India spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday (March 17) admitted that he missed MS Dhoni’s presence behind the stumps in national colours after the latter retired from international cricket in 2020.
Kuldeep played a key role in India’s white-ball success from his debut in 2017 up until the 2019 World Cup. During that phase, Dhoni used to guide Kuldeep from behind the stumps and the cricket fraternity had witnessed the duo plotting the dismissal of some of the world’s top batters.
“I wanted him to play more because it was very easy for us when we were bowling. After Dhoni retired, my performance with the ball wasn’t great,” Kuldeep said in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express.
“It happens when a person guides you and that person’s influence is not there anymore, then suddenly everything is on your shoulders. It takes time for you to react to the situation… that probably happened to me. Then slowly you understand and become self-reliant,” he added.
Notably, Kuldeep's performances took a dip post the 2019 World Cup. He also lost his place in India’s white-ball team for a brief period but the left-arm wrist-spinner has regained his old mojo lately.
Kuldeep further recalled how Dhoni’s valuable inputs used to help him and fellow spinner Yuzvendra Chahal immensely.
“(Yuzvendra) Chahal and I really enjoyed when Mahi bhai was keeping wickets, he used to give lots of ideas. I didn’t have to think too much when I was bowling. I just had to bowl and he would even adjust the fields. No doubt the time I had with Mahi bhai on the field and even off the field was great,” he remarked.
Kuldeep Yadav and MS Dhoni last played together in a 2019 World Cup match against Sri Lanka at Headingley.
While Dhoni called time on his international career on 15th August 2020, he continues to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He captained the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to record-equaling fifth IPL title last year.
At the age of 42, Dhoni is set to lead CSK in the upcoming IPL 2024 season, slated to get underway on March 22.
