Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav was on cloud nine after his match-winning performance against his former franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. Yadav scalped four wickets and conceded 35 runs in his quota of four overs against KKR at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
Kuldeep was part of KKR for a long period of eight years but didn’t get his opportunities in the last couple of seasons. The chinaman spinner played only four matches for KKR in IPL 2020 and he didn’t even get to play a single match in the previous season as Kolkata backed Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
However, Yadav was at his best against his former franchise. Yadav accounted for Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, and Umesh Yadav. The leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh took a brilliant catch to dismiss Umesh Yadav and he was pumped up after taking a fine catch.
Yadav admitted that he learned a lot at KKR and he tried to apply the same against them on Sunday.
Kuldeep told his DC teammate Shardul Thakur during a conversation on IPLT20.COM: “I was part of KKR for eight years and learned a lot from there. Want to thank KKR from the bottom of my heart. Obviously, when you have been part of a franchise for so many years, you want to make a mark against them. I have learned a lot there and I am applying the same now. I am really happy with my performance (on Sunday).”
Meanwhile, KKR picked up Kuldeep Yadav for INR 40 lakhs in IPL 2014. On the other hand, DC roped him for INR 2 crores in IPL 2022 mega auction.
Yadav has taken 10 wickets in four matches and he is currently the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the season with Umesh Yadav. The experienced spinner added that he has got some rhythm in his bowling and he is more confident.
“I haven’t changed a lot about my bowling, but I have got some rhythm going.”
“I am enjoying the company of players like you (Thakur). There are a lot of youngsters in the team. The captain is also quite young and there is Axar (Patel) as well, with whom I have played quite a lot. The atmosphere and the vibes are very good. If you do well in the first match, you just want to carry on in the same vein. So, I just want to continue bowling the good line and lengths.”
DC will next face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
