Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif believes Kuldeep Yadav is a bit confused whether he should bowl quick or slow in the three-match series against Zimbabwe. Kuldeep went wicketless in the first ODI and conceded 36 runs in his 10 overs quota. In fact, Axar Patel had scalped three wickets on the same pitch in the opening game.
The left-arm chinaman spinner got the big wicket of in-form Sikander Raza in the second ODI but conceded 49 runs in the eight overs he bowled. Thus, he conceded his runs at an economy rate of 6.10, which was the most expensive for any Indian bowler.
“He is a bit confused whether to bowl quick or slow,” Kaif said on Sony Sports. “He has this new strategy to bowl fast, he wants to keep the speed around 90 kph. There were times when the balls were pitched short, so (Sean) Williams played the pull shots and when he flighted the ball, he was driven.”
He continued, “There were quite a few boundaries scored off him. He was expensive, conceded the most runs if we talk about the bowlers, gave 49 runs in eight overs. He had a big wicket to his name, he dismissed Sikandar Raza, who is a good player.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav hasn’t been in the best of forms in the recent past and he has been a bit low on confidence. However, the left-arm spinner has done a good job in returning back to the team.
Yadav had done a decent job while playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022 as he had scalped 21 wickets in 14 matches and finished as the fifth highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
Kaif feels Kuldeep will continue to grow in confidence if he is given more matches by the team management.
“He missed a caught-and-bowled chance and for that, he will be disappointed. However, the rhythm is visible (in his bowling). He did bowl well against the West Indies and will get better as he plays more matches. He hasn’t been playing regularly,” he said.
India has taken a 2-0 lead against Zimbabwe and has decided to bat first in the third ODI.
