With 17 wickets from three matches, Kuldeep Yadav emerged at the highest wicket-taker in the first of its kind Duleep Trophy played under lights with the pink ball. Although his team finished as runners-up in the tournament, the young chinaman bowler impressed with his skills.
Speaking about his experience at the end of the tournament, Kuldeep said, “I was playing with the pink ball for the first time, and it was a very good experience. At a personal level it went quite well, I took wickets and made some runs as well.”
Asked how he worked to bowl to batsmen like Gautam Gambhir who play spin very well and Cheteshwar Pujara, the spinner said, “I was very excited to bowl to Pujara and to Gauti bhai, who obviously play spin very well. (However,) at the same time I was nervous about how to bowl to him. It was a good experience to bowl to good (and experienced senior batsmen) who play spin so well. I learnt a lot while bowling to them as well. Hopefully in the future if things continue to move forward this way then will able to improve more.”
Discussing further he elaborated, “When Pujara bhai and Gauti bhai were batting they had a lot of time to play spin so to maintain the pace was very difficult for me in the first innings, (so) how I bowl to them was an important aspect for me (to work out). While bowling to a good player it is important to note what pace they like to play what pace they find it difficult, so that’s an area that I will look to improve on and in the future and will be helpful.”
Reflecting on his bowling, he said, “The wicket in the final was different from the one in the first match. It depends on how you are bowling on different wickets. In the first match the wicket aided batting, (I) was bowling slow, so was getting turn and bounce. On this wicket, the ball was turning and I had to maintain the pace. It was a good experience bowling with the pink ball, it is difficult to bowl for the spinners, there is no seam and it is difficult to grip the ball. Also when there is dew in the night it is not so easy to grip the ball.”
With wickets under his belt, Kuldeep is keen to carry the form into the 2016-17 season. “I am happy with the way the season has started for me. I have been bowling well. The season starts in 15 to 20 days. Hopefully the season will be good. I will continue to work hard, to be able to carry this performance (and form) in the coming season and the help my team win.”
Asked about the influence of Yuvraj Singh and playing under the leadership of the all-rounder, Kuldeep said, “It was a huge experience for me to play with Yuvi bhai. He was very supportive and I would like to thank him. The way he has shown faith in my bowling; he always believed that I can take wickets which rubbed off on me that I will pick the wickets and return the faith he has in me, so I felt really good.”
