Kuldeep Yadav Credits Change In Pace For Success Against AUS, Says 'No One Told Me...'

In the opening World Cup match, Kuldeep Yadav helped India defeat Australia, continuing his stellar form into the competition. Kuldeep made an impression against Australia at Chepauk by dismissing David Warner and Glenn Maxwell, following on a stellar showing in the Asia Cup 2023.

Kuldeep's experience playing international cricket has been somewhat unpredictable. During India's 2017 West Indies tour, he had an impressive debut as a young spinner. Even though he had early success, he occasionally had mysterious exclusions from the team.

When Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal became the renowned "Kulcha" tandem in limited-overs cricket, Kuldeep rose to the occasion. The happy times, however, were short-lived as he had a serious setback in 2020, missing numerous international matches after suffering a knee injury and a tiny wrist fracture.

In recent years, Kuldeep has come under heavy fire for his slower deliveries and lack of bounce off the surface to threaten batters. However, no one offered the 29-year-old left-arm wrist spinner a remedy.

Kuldeep gave a lighthearted response when asked how he was able to accelerate his deliveries, which has greatly helped him become India's most reliable ODI bowler over the last 18 months.

Kuldeep was quoted by PTI as saying, "Everyone told me my deliveries needed more pace, but no one told me how to do it."

Although Kuldeep had to learn how to modify his bowling motion on his own, former Team India physio Ashish Kaushik gave him some insightful advice when he was recovering from knee surgery.

Physio Ashish Kaushik recommended me to lessen the load on my right leg as I was healing from my injury. After my recovery, I started using that in my training, and I soon saw a change. It took me about six months to get my rhythm again, so it wasn't an overnight change," he said, reflecting on his return to the game.

In response to the Chepauk playing conditions, which provided some support for spinners, Kuldeep underlined the need of changing pace on a twisting course.

"The ball's turning speed is crucial when using a turner. It's important to vary the pace since pitches might turn slowly at times," he said.

In response to a question about whether the Chepauk pitch was slow on Sunday, he said, "Yes, I had to quicken my deliveries, but I don't think so. Glenn Maxwell, for example, had limited time, and you'll notice that the pace of deliveries becomes important when the turn arrives, as demonstrated by the way Smith was bowled (to Jadeja), the Chinaman explained.

At Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on October 11, India will play Afghanistan for the second time.