I Wasn’t Played In Chennai During The IPL Despite Knowing It’s A Turner: Kuldeep Yadav

Updated - 12 May 2021, 12:31 PM

Kuldeep Yadav[photo: Twitter]
Kuldeep Yadav. [Photo: Twitter]

India’s leg-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav’s international career has been going downhill for the past two years. From being one of the first-choice spin bowlers and bamboozling oppositions irrespective of the conditions, Kuldeep Yadav has found himself on the crossroads. The 26-year old leg-spinner, who could not play for the Kolkata Knight Riders this year, questioned the management for omitting him even in the Chennai leg.

The Chennai track of IPL 2021 has produced some of the low-scoring matches since the pitch has allowed drastic turn and spin. The likes of Rahul Chahar, Amit Mishra, Axar Patel, and Rashid Khan thrived on those tracks, delivering economic and match-winning bowling spells. On the contrary, Kolkata Knight Riders played the only specialist spinner in Varun Chakravarthy, whose performances in IPL 2020 have made him undroppable.

Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR
Image Credit: Twitter

While Chakravarthy did not disappoint and exploited the conditions well for the most part; however, it meant that Kuldeep Yadav had to be kept out. He could not get a chance to prove himself. The Kanpur-born cricketer also featured in only five games last year for the Knight Riders and took only one wicket at 92. Yadav’s international performances have hardly been noteworthy as the likes of Australia and England have pretty much found him easy to play.

I was a bit shocked but couldn’t do anything: Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine
Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine (Image Credit: Twitter)

Kuldeep Yadav remarked that not playing for Kolkata in IPL 2021 took a toll on him as he kept wondering if he is that undeserving. However, the 26-year old stated that he could not ask them either as it was the management’s decision and felt disappointed since he could not play in Chennai, which had a turning track. Kuldeep also revealing feeling shocked and was helpless.

“I was especially when I didn’t find a place in my IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. I wondered, ‘am I that bad?’ It’s a team-management decision and it would be wrong to go and ask them. I wasn’t played in Chennai during the IPL despite knowing it’s a turner. I was a bit shocked but couldn’t do anything,” Yadav told News18.com.

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IPL 2021 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Kuldeep Yadav