Kuldeep Yadav: Playing regularly would have helped

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Pic/AFP

When Kuldeep Yadav played the first ODI against England at Pune, it was only his eighth match in seven months. After a torrid IPL (92 runs and one wicket) where he played just five games in UAE in September-October, Kuldeep warmed the bench for seven Tests (four v Australia and three v England), eight T20Is (three v Australia, five v England) and two ODIs (v Australia). His wait finally ended when he was picked for the first two ODIs v England at Pune, but both outings were nightmarish. He gave away 68 runs off nine overs in the first and 84 off 10 in the second, remaining wicketless on both counts. He was dropped for the third ODI.

As soon as he returned home to Kanpur, Kuldeep headed to train at his childhood coach and mentor Kapil Pandey's academy at Rovers Club. After an intense training session on Wednesday before leaving for his IPL campaign with KKR, mid-day spoke to Kuldeep, discussing his form and future.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

What went wrong in the two ODIs against England?
It would have been better had I focused on length. If you're playing regularly, you get an idea about the length and can quickly identify what length to bowl. But when you're playing with breaks, the length may sometimes be a little up or short. If I work hard on my lengths, it will help me bowl better. My sir [Pandey] felt the same.

What did you learn after bowling on the batsmen-friendly pitches?
The first game was very important as I was playing after a long time. I didn't get into a good rhythm in that match. Had I been playing regularly, rhythm would not have been an issue. I made a good comeback after the first over [conceding 13 runs]. In the second game, I bowled better. It's just that there was no assistance for spin on the pitch, so I didn't get the desired results. Ben Stokes hammered me [20 runs in the ninth over that included three sixes] because I didn't understand what length to bowl. I should have bowled a little back [of the length]. On flat pitches, length is crucial. It was difficult for spinners in the ODIs, all went for runs.

Were you looking to attack more?
Yes, because England were 200 for one and needed some 130 odd runs to win the second ODI. I was looking for a wicket because I thought it won't be easy for a new batsman at that stage. Taking wickets was the only way we could have won that game and that was the plan of our captain [Virat Kohli] as well.

It is believed that batsmen have figured you out.
I don't pay attention to all this talk. It's important that I keep improving my skills and be as accurate as possible. If you're playing regularly, batsmen tend to read you. If they are getting comfortable playing me, then my job as a bowler is to keep improving. And that's why I look to add or change a few things every time. With the help of video analysts, batsmen are aware what the bowler is doing…how he is bowling the wrong'un or leg spin, etc. Everyone is here to improve. Despite all the analysis, batsmen still find ways to score runs and bowlers still find different methods to take wickets. There are other factors too like form, rhythm and confidence. If confidence is high, you'll start taking wickets and people will again start talking good things about you.

Was it frustrating to wait for your chance?
It wasn't frustrating, but you always wish to be in the XI for every game. Sometimes, you don't fit into the team combination. Those things are not in my control, so I don't think about them. My job is to be ready whenever the opportunity arises. The team management has always communicated to me the reason why I wasn't getting a place in the XI. They have always backed me and I am not at all worried. I keep working hard in training sessions and do whatever the team needs.

You last bowled with Yuzvendra Chahal in an international match in March 2019 in the fourth ODI v Australia. Do you think bowling with him brings out the best out in you?
We have to move on with time. When it was our time, we were taking wickets. We both are attacking spinners. We don't mind going for runs to earn our wickets. But yes, bowling in partnerships makes a difference. If you build pressure from one end, the bowler from the other end will benefit. That's our advantage. We attack, create pressure from both ends and take wickets.