India wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav keen on applying his learning in England
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): India's 'Chinaman' spinner Kuldeep Yadav remains pressure free despite the evolving expectations about the impact he can create during the five anticipated Tests in England. Kuldeep, who holds a fair share of experience playing against the Three Lions, is looking to instil what he has learned on the field if he gets a chance to put his craft on show.
Kuldeep is set to return to the Test format for India for the first time since the home series against New Zealand last October. He missed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to injury but found his groove in the recently concluded Indian Premier League while featuring for Delhi Capitals.
Fans and former cricketers have termed the left-arm wrist spinner's inclusion an 'X factor'. Such a tag often culminates in pressure, but that is not the case for Kuldeep, who is aware of England's style of play.
'No, I do not feel any pressure as I feel it is not something that one should take pressure for. I think if one gets a good opportunity and gives their best, then it is a done job there. I have played against England last year, and have an idea about their playing style. The only thing is that one has to be very alert all the time and stay focused,' Kuldeep said while speaking to Boria Majumdar on Revsportz.
Kuldeep mapped out England's aggressive approach, which doesn't allow a bowler to be defensive. During England's tour of India last year, Kuldeep left the touring party bamboozled and scalped 19 wickets at 20.16.
'Unlike other teams, with the England team, one cannot relax and play defensive. England bat in a very aggressive manner, so one has to very much be in the game and plan your overs accordingly. I learnt a lot about fielding playing that England series, so I hope to apply those learnings this time in England. And most importantly, enjoy my bowling, as that is what gets you wickets,' he said.
He made his sole appearance in England at the iconic Lord's and went wicketless in his nine-over spell as India succumbed to a heavy defeat by an innings and 159 runs. Since then, Kuldeep has upped his game to a new level and unlocked one aspect that could be the key behind adding names to his wicket-taking column.
'When I played in 2018 [at Lord's] with the Dukes, I personally experienced that Dukes are a bit hard and drift more. So, as a spinner, if one can control that, then it can be challenging for the batsmen. Because it is hard, it bounces more, and the spin is very sharp if one gets a spin-friendly track,' he said.
'It's a bit like the SG ball, and the seam is protruding. Kookaburra, on the other hand, is very different and gives spinners a very good grip due to its rounded nature. I like it personally. But overall, it takes adjustment and time spent with the ball to get used to it,' he added. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
23 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Sourav Ganguly says Rishabh Pant let him down but gives India keeper a chance to prove himself: 'Didn't like what I saw'
Rishabh Pant is one of the very few experienced players travelling with the Indian squad for the five-Test series in England. In fact, Pant, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are the only four players from the squad of 18 to have played a Test series in England before. Hence, in the absence of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom have announced their retirements from Test cricket, expectations are high from India's dashing wicketkeeper batter. Especially given the fact that he struggled the last time India played Tests – in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In Australia, Pant played all five Tests, but his returns were poor, with 255 runs at an average of 28.33, starring just one half-century. Pant's efforts proved even more disappointing because it was against the same team in the same conditions four years ago, where he played a hand in India's most famous Test win away from home, beating Australia 2-1 with epic knocks in Sydney and Brisbane. Among the many disappointed with Pant was former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who pointed out what the India keeper did wrong Down Under. However, the England tour marks a fresh start, and Ganguly expects Pant to make amends. "He's a very good player, but he has to continue playing the way he played a few years ago. I saw him in Australia, and I didn't like what I saw. Too many shots. He kept swinging. The ball decked around at certain venues. He has got the ability, there is no doubt about that, but it's about the application. I want to see some more fight from him. He's got a very good defence. So, he has to defend and now swing at every ball," Ganguly told RevSportz. Also Read: Sourav Ganguly fires shots at Agarkar, BCCI for dropping Shreyas Iyer from India squad, says 'not a player to be left out' It was in England seven years ago that Pant made a sparkling Test debut for India, launching just the second ball he faced into the stands for a six. Two matches later, at the Oval, Pant peeled off his maiden Test century, and although it couldn't help India avoid a 1-4 drubbing, Rishabh Pant had arrived. Even in the four-match series in 2021/22, Pant couldn't do much, scoring just one fifty from eight innings. A lot of hopes will be pinned on Pant. This is believed to be one of the weakest Indian teams touring England, which automatically trims their chances of winning. Then again, the hosts are undergoing a transition of their own. The bowling attack, in particular, is filled with youngsters, barring the returning Chris Woakes. Do India have a realistic chance of pulling off what no Indian team has done since 2007? Ganguly, who was part of that squad 18 years ago, certainly believes so, but for that, a couple of things need to fall into place. "Yes, sure. We just need two things, batting well and [Jasprit] Bumrah remaining fit. We won in Australia, in Melbourne (2020-21), with a young batting line-up, having no [Virat] Kohli, no Rohit Sharma. So, I do not see why we cannot win," said the former BCCI chief.
Economic Times
24 minutes ago
- Economic Times
England's Adil Rashid pips Varun Chakravarthy to move to second spot in ICC Men's T20I Bowling Rankings
ANI Adil Rashid celebrates a wicket England spinner veteran Adil Rashid is just one step away from the ICC Men's T20I Bowling Rankings summit, having climbed to the second spot in the rankings issued on Wednesday. Rashid was consistent across England's 3-0 series victory over the West Indies, claiming 1/22 (4 overs) at Chester-le-Street, 1/59 (4 overs) in a high-scoring affair in Bristol, and 2/30 (4 overs) in Southampton, as per ICC. His efforts mean he passes Wanindu Hasaranga and Varun Chakaravarthy to second on the T20I Bowling Rankings, with his rating of 710 in touching distance to Kiwi quick Jacob Duffy on 723. England were strong in their home stand, picking up where they left off in their victorious ODI series efforts against the same teammate Brydon Carse also enjoyed a Bowling Rankings jump, with two wickets across the final two matches, leading to a 16-spot jump to 52nd (493).Runs flowed in the three-match series, with players from both sides enjoying significant jumps on the updated T20I Batter Rankings. A blazing 84 (46) from Ben Duckett in the third T20I was a major help in his 48-spot jump to 16th, with teammate Harry Brook's 35 not out (22) and 34 (20) helping him to a six-spot jump to a share of the other side, two knocks in the 40s from Shai Hope helped the West Indies skipper move 14 spots to 15th, while Rovman Powell made a move into the top 20 in large part thanks to an effort of 79 not out from 45 balls in the final Holder's series of 70 runs and a wicket meanwhile, helped the West Indian up 16 spots to 26 in the All-Rounder Rankings.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Why Sourav Ganguly ‘didn't like' Rishabh Pant in Australia during BGT? How can Indian vice-captain improve in England?
Rishabh Pant was heavily criticised for his choice of shots against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. In nine innings, Pant managed just 255 runs with the best of 61 in the fifth and final Test in Sydney. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly didn't hesitate in admitting that he 'didn't like' the wicketkeeper's show in Australia as the latter 'kept swinging' his bat too often. A few months later, another challenge awaits Pant in England as India prepare for a gruelling five-match Test series, starting on June 20 at Headingly. 'He's a very good player, but he has to continue playing the way he played a few years ago,' Ganguly told Revsportz. 'I saw him in Australia, and I didn't like what I saw. Too many shots. He kept swinging. The ball decked around at certain venues,' added Ganguly, who had worked with Pant closely at Delhi Capitals last year. With the England pitches known for its movement and bounce, Ganguly advised Pant to grind in the middle and not swing against every single delivery. Calling Pant a natural stroke-maker, Ganguly urged the southpaw to adapt to the situation and prolong his innings. 'He has got the ability, there is no doubt about that, but it's about the application. I want to see some more fight from him. He's got a very good defence. So, he has to defend,' added Ganguly. Notably, Pant is coming after a morale-boosting hundred in the Indian Premier League following his below-par show throughout the entire season with Lucknow Super Giants. In England, Pant has played nine matches, scoring 556 runs at an average of 32.70 with two centuries. While eight of his matches came against England, Pant's other Test came against New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021. Both his hundreds on English soil came against England.
