Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag trusts Delhi Capitals (DC) is the best IPL franchise for Kuldeep Yadav to revivify his international career.
One of the shiniest wrist-spin talents in the world, Kuldeep’s international form began dipping around the 2019 ODI World Cup, culminating in him being completely out of favour in 2-formats by 2021. The 27-year-old then experienced a knee injury which forced him out of competition for another few months.
In this context, him claiming 4-wickets in the first two matches for the DC was nothing short of brilliant. Doubts increased about him being “found out” and not having enough in him to return to his prime. A lot of that appears settled now.
Sehwag said that in the Indian team, where there is a cut-throat competitor in every department, DC only has Kuldeep among quality spinners. He described that this takes the pressure off him and supports him to play better.
The former opener told Cricbuzz on Thursday:
“I think he should go to Delhi because they don’t have any other spinner to replace him. In the Indian team, there’s (Ravichandran) Ashwin, (Yuzvendra) Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja, so he doesn’t know whether he’ll get the match. In Delhi, there isn’t any spinner of his quality. He knows that he will necessarily play no matter how he bowls. In that case, you bowl better because there isn’t any pressure. Otherwise, you think that ‘he’s sitting on the bench, if I don’t bowl well, he’ll get to play, which affects the bowling.”
Progress, not perfection – Kimberly Snyder. pic.twitter.com/IlsxjZ8g9C
— Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) April 4, 2022
Axar Patel leads the Delhi Capitals’ spin attack but frequently needs a more out-and-out attacking spinner to praise him, a role performed by Kuldeep. In this context, the latter’s only competition is 19-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner Vicky Ostwal, who was India’s best wicket-taker at the U-19 World Cup.
Ajay Jadeja said that Kuldeep Yadav is better than before
🗣️ "I think the whole group is giving their 100% when it comes to preparation." – @imShard
Our boys are charged before the next challenge & look forward to taking on the Super Giants 💪#YehHaiNayiDilli | #IPL2022 | #LSGvDC | #CapitalsUnplugged | @imkuldeep18 | #OctaRoarsForDC pic.twitter.com/MEWZ67mWBl
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 7, 2022
In the same interaction, former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja even observed that Kuldeep’s bowling is even better than before the injury because there’s a fresh rhythm in how the ball leaves his hand. He said:
“I’ll say he’s better than before because of how the ball is leaving out of his hand… have you ever played with a top? Sometimes you spin it 150 times, and it doesn’t come out well from the hand. But sometimes, there’s a rhythm where it comes out with a buzzing sound the first time. The ball is coming out of his hand like that. If you watch the game, he has the confidence – he’s in a different team, these are all side benefits, but confidence ultimately comes from how the ball leaves your hand.”
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