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As one of the senior members of India’s current Test team, Kuldeep Yadav has to take additional responsibilities on his shoulders, and he knows it very well.
The selectors of the Indian cricket team have included several young stars, including two emerging spinners, in the squad for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan. In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, the responsibility of leading the spin bowling attack from the front is now on Yadav.
Kuldeep Yadav talked about preparing young players for tests
A day before the Test in New Chandigarh, Kuldeep Yadav spoke about the importance of communication with the new players and how he is working ahead of the match. Instead of guiding budding talents as an elite guru, Kuldeep wants to be a partner in their journey.
“Whenever a new player joins the team, your job is to make him comfortable. You want him to see you as a partner. If he has any problem, he should feel free to talk to you and you should be ready to support him,” Kuldeep Yadav told PTI in an exclusive interview conducted by JioHotstar.
He said, “At the moment, there is a good bonding with two or three young players. It feels good to be with them.”
One of these players is likely to face Afghanistan in the one-off Test
Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey are the two new players in the squad for the one-off Test. One of them is ready to make a place in the playing eleven along with Kuldeep Yadav. On paper, Team India is far ahead of Afghanistan cricket team in terms of strength and experience.
Retaining most of the key batsmen for the match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that they are not taking the competition lightly. To maintain the best possible balance in the team, the selectors have included some experienced candidates as well as new players in the bowling side. It will be important for the host team to win this match, as this match is part of the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Kuldeep Yadav, who has taken 76 wickets in 17 Test matches, says that they are having free conversations as a group to build a stronger bond with the young players. Through the conversation, the 31-year-old player is trying to understand his understanding of the game, where patience matters most along with a person’s skill set.
We talk openly as a group: Kuldeep
“We talk openly as a group, especially about conditions. If I want to test the youngsters, I ask them questions about their understanding of the pitch, weather conditions and the team’s approach to the match,” says Kuldeep ahead of the India vs Afghanistan Test.
“So, our conversations are mostly about basic strategy, what length to bowl, what pace works on this surface, and how spinners need to be patient in Test cricket. Patience is everything in this format,” he further mentioned.
Read more: “Sai Sudarshan’s win is fine”: Gautam Gambhir officially seals India’s No. 3 spot ahead of Afghanistan Test
