From finding himself in the dark in 2020 to emerging as one of India’s leading spinners in 2024, Kuldeep Yadav has been a revelation, particularly in overcoming the rough phase he experienced four-five years ago. Kuldeep has been one of the biggest positives from this year’s IPL, with an eye to the upcoming T20 World Cup. He is expected to spearhead India’s spin department in the showpiece event, thanks to the phenomenal run of form the chinaman bowler has showcase across formats over the last year or so.
Kuldeep reached cloud nine when everything was rosy for him from 2017 to 2019. He broke into the Indian team and led Kolkata Knight Riders’ spin attack with aplomb. At the 2018 IPL edition, Kuldeep claimed 17 wickets, and his tally stood at 12 in the season before that. However, things took a turn in IPL 2019 when he faced criticism for his inability to pick wickets regularly. He managed just four wickets in nine matches, and his economy rate rose to 8.66. The perception quickly changed against Kuldeep, notably after an assault by RCB’s Moeen Ali at Chinnaswamy Stadium in what turned out to be the chinaman bowler’s final game of the season for KKR. He had conceded 59 runs in four overs.
In IPL 2020, Kuldeep made only five appearances with just one wicket at an economy rate of 7.66. Between the two seasons, Kuldeep claimed a mere six wickets from seven matches at the 2019 ODI World Cup. Although he remained part of India’s core group, his appearances were reduced with the national team preferring Yuzvendra Chahal over him. He was clearly out of form. His slow pace off the air was being anticipated early by the batsmen as he lost his spark. To make matters worse, he missed IPL 2021 due to a knee injury and was released by the Kolkata-based franchise.
The Covid-19 lockdown and the time post-IPL 2020 proved to be a bonus for Kuldeep as he reworked his game with his childhood coach Kapil Dev Pandey. The duo, now together for 20 years, worked tirelessly to iron out a few technical flaws in his game.
“We went back to the drawing board and decided to start afresh. Kuldeep and I agreed not to dwell on the rough patch, a phase every cricketer goes through, but I must say he lacked direction from his former franchise,” Pandey told RevSportz.
“I have always told Kuldeep, ‘just as clouds can’t cover the sun for long, a good player can’t be ignored for long’. Far from the negative thoughts, Kuldeep is now in a really good place, and I couldn’t be happier. He has served India since his U-19 days, with three hat-tricks to his name – the first chinaman bowler from India – winning numerous matches across formats.”
“I’m sure his former franchise was aware of these things. We have moved on… where Kuldeep is now is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and diligence. Neither of us gave up; we kept at it every day.”
Pandey added: “During his early career, I used to give him plans on where and how to bowl against specific opposition. But now, he is a mature player who knows what to do. We don’t delve much into these details now because I believe a coach should step back if he wants his player to take charge. If I sense he needs motivation, I will be the first to reach out. I keep telling him, focus on your work without worrying about the result.”
Kuldeep’s career took a U-turn when Delhi Capitals acquired him for Rs 2 crore ahead of the 2022 IPL season. Simultaneously, the Indian team was undergoing a change, with Rohit Sharma being appointed as captain, bringing in fresh ideas that included a lifeline for Kuldeep. A stellar IPL 2022 with Delhi Capitals, where he ended up with 21 wickets in 14 matches, further bolstered his case.
So what aspect of the game did Kuldeep and his coach work on, and how did everything fall in place?
“The break during Covid-19 was beneficial for his game. We had time to rework certain things. Rohit Sharma advised him to increase his pace and we started working on it immediately upon receiving this feedback,” said Pandey.
“Initially, he was concerned about his line and length if he increased his pace, but we addressed these issues. Now, what you see is a bowler with complete command over the ball. We worked on this for a few months and then, he got injured, missing several months of cricket.”
The coach went on: “It’s easier to bowl quick; the challenge lies in maintaining revs and length with increased pace. Our focus was to target the good length area and reduce shorter deliveries as much as possible. I used Shane Warne as an example of how he rarely bowled short, and that’s what we aimed to perfect.”
Having joined Pandey’s cricket academy in 2004, Kuldeep, who was initially a medium-pacer as a child, was advised to turn into a spinner. The first ball he bowled was a chinaman. Despite being a bowler of that variety, Kuldeep has modelled his game around Warne. While they are different bowlers from different eras, Kuldeep’s coach believes Warne’s bowling is the ideal model for any budding leg-spinner, particularly due to his gutsy approach.
Kuldeep has excelled in IPL 2024 despite battling a niggle. In four matches, the Kanpur-born player has taken six wickets at an economy rate of 6.06. His sharp googly to dismiss Nicholas Pooran for a duck demonstrates his heightened game awareness. Kuldeep will be a crucial component for India in the US and the Caribbean, as the Rohit Sharma-led side seeks to end their 11-year ICC trophy drought.
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Kuldeep Yadav straight away unveiling his magic!
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“I have high expectations from Kuldeep in the T20 World Cup. I hope he can replicate his ODI form in the T20 format for India. He performed well in England and the West Indies, but I really want him to shine for India in the World Cup and help the team lift the trophy,” Pandey concluded.