I Don't Think He Got Better: Michael Vaughan On Kuldeep Yadav's Recent Struggles

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that the absence of former wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni and the inability of Kuldeep Yadav to evolve since his international debut has played a part in his current struggles.

Kuldeep Yadav has been on a consistent decline in the past 18-24 months and the ongoing series has proved to be yet another example with the English batsman taking the chinaman to the cleaners.

Kuldeep went for 68 runs in nine overs in the first ODI before Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes hammered him for 84 in ten overs in the last game.

The chinaman was eventually dropped from the playing 11 for the series-decider with T Natarajan replacing him.

Speaking on CricBuzz Live, Michael Vaughan said that the absence of MS Dhoni has hampered Kuldeep Yadav, who himself has failed to evolve his game after initial success in international cricket.

“Clearly, when MS Dhoni was behind the stumps, he (Kuldeep) had a captain and a think tank who could help him out,” Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz. “I think, more so, it was the fact that Kuldeep Yadav was not seen by many teams, and he probably surprised many teams. And MS Dhoni behind the stumps intimidated the batsmen anyway because he is MS Dhoni,” added Michael Vaughan.

“Just a yard away from where you are striking the ball. But I think it was also a fact that Kuldeep Yadav was new onto the scene, a young leg spinner and it always takes a bit of time for batters to use to the deliveries. What’s he got, how is the googly coming in, what kind of variations he’s got?” He aaid

“Looking at him, I don’t think he got better. He’s probably stayed at the same level. In IPL cricket, if international cricket, if you are not bringing something different to your game, particularly as a leg-spinner – a subtle variation, change in pace, an angle change – so, I think he has been found out a bit,” Vaughan

“So, I think, not every batsman will pick every delivery. But a lot of England batsmen are picking Kuldeep Yadav, and that makes it so much easier to strike. That makes it so much easier to hit it into the stands.” he said. ”That is what has happened. Kuldeep Yadav has been found out a bit, I don’t think he has not brought anything new to his game. The challenge for him is to go to the IPL and bring in something different,” he signed off.

Kuldeep Yadav, who has taken 105 wickets in 63 ODIs at an average of 27.9, has managed a mere 13 wickets in his last 13 ODIs at an average of 58.38 and an economy rate of 6.27.

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