'Don't Lose Hope Kuldeep'- Wasim Jaffer Offers Words Of Encouragement For Kuldeep Yadav

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has offered words of encouragement for left-arm leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, urging him to not lose hope following repeated snubs from the team-management.

In times where there has been a lot of talk about the mental health of players due to their continued stay in stringent bio-bubbles due to Covid-19, one has to feel for Kuldeep Yadav, who has travelled from one bio-bubble to another since last August, only to see others play ahead of him.

Kuldeep Yadav joined the bio-bubble set-up of his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in the UAE in August but got just 5 opportunities to feature in the starting XI as the team-management went with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.

Kuldeep was snubbed from the T20I squad for the tour of Australia but was picked in the ODI and Test set-up.

And, so he travelled Down Under with the Indian contingent immediately after the culmination of the Indian Premier League.

He played just a solitary ODI in the three-match series and then a three-day warm-up game against Australia A. However, with Kuldeep having done well during the last Australian tour, many expected that he will get a chance at some point in the Test series.

Those chances shot through the roof after both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were ruled out of the series decider at the Gabba in Brisbane.

However, Team India went with the all-round option in Washington Sundar. And, the move paid off brilliantly as the off-spinner claimed four wickets across two innings besides chipping in with handy knocks of 62 and 22.

India won the historic Test series in Australia and in a post-match address to the team, Ajinkya Rahane had urged Kuldeep Yadav to keep working hard, stating that his time will come in the England series.

Even bowling coach Bharat Arun said the same thing upon his return to the country.

However, that wasn’t the case in Chennai as India went with the left-arm Orthodox in Shahbaz Nadeem and two right-arm off-spin option in Ashwin and Washington Sundar- a move that has proved to be disastrous on a placid track at the Chepauk with both Sundar and Nadeem failing to make any impact.

Taking to his Twitter account, Wasim Jaffer wrote:

“Can’t help but feel sad for @imkuldeep18 Since August he’s been travelling from one bio-bubble to another, but haven’t really got a chance to showcase his talent. But don’t lose hope Kuldeep. You have done it before and I’m sure given an opportunity you will do it again #INDvsENG”

Can't help but feel sad for@imkuldeep18 Since August he's been travelling from one bio-bubble to another, but haven't really got a chance to showcase his talent. But don't lose hope Kuldeep. You have done it before and I'm sure given an opportunity you will do it again#INDvsENG

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 7, 2021

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