It has been a sensational return for Kuldeep Yadav in Indian colours and hence former India opener Wasim Jaffer lauded the talented spinner’s willpower and determination. What Kuldeep Yadav has gone through is not easy and to come back from that phase and play international cricket again, will surely give a lot of motivation to people all over the world who are struggling with different issues to fight.
Kuldeep Yadav featured for India in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and then three against New Zealand and in total he picked up 11 scalps and was an integral part of India’s win in both the series. In ODIs he is the perfect bowler for India to put pressure and also pick wickets as he does not allow batters easy runs especially when he is bowling with rhythm.
Jaffer backs Kuldeep to continue that form in ODIs to the T20s against New Zealand and hence he picks the learn leg spinner alongwith Washington Sundar in the starting eleven for the hosts. He expressed his reasoning on ESPN Cricinfo as he highlighted how Kuldeep is bowling really well and when the ball comes out of their hand really well, they pick wickets.
“It happens with wrist spinners. When their form is good, when the ball comes out of their hands well, they take wickets,” Wasim Jaffer said. “He has proved in the last two series by taking big wickets and giving breakthroughs at critical stages. So, he has that potential.”
Jaffer even sympathizes with Kuldeep on how he was dropped from the team to maintain combination despite his top performances and was never given a consistent run. “He wasn’t given the chance earlier. Since Axar Patel isn’t there, the management has given him a consistent run. He plays a match, gets dropped, returns, performs, and gets axed again. So, it’s not easy for any player,” Wasim Jaffer reasoned.
He backs him to do well against New Zealand in the T20Is and also wants him in the team against Australia when India plays then in February. “He has shown remarkable consistency and I won’t be surprised if he does well in this series. I expect him to get a chance against Australia as well,” he concluded.
Kuldeep Yadav has not played a T20I ever since the fifth match of the five match series against West Indies in Lauderhill back in August 2022. However hsi statistics in this format is very good as he has picked up 44 wickets in 25 matches.
After whitewashing the Kiwis in ODIs, the Indian team will be keen to put up a similar performance against them in the T20Is. However now the focus is mostly on the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia that will start next month.
