Yuzvendra Chahal Explains Why His Combination With Kuldeep Yadav Has Become Rare

The due of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, often regarded as ‘Kulcha’, last played in an ODI game together during the 2019 World Cup in England. Since then the leg-spinners’ pair have remained separated.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were one of the key reasons for India starting as a title favourite going into the World Cup, but the pair was broken mid-tournament, and have never been reunited since.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the preferred leg-spinner between the two, cites all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s return to the side as the reason for the management not fielding both the leg-spinners together in the eleven.

We could have played together if Jadeja was a medium pacer: Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal points out that because Hardik Pandya has had back injury issues, Jadeja came into the eleven as an all-rounder at number 7, and Pandya continues to be in the side as a pure batsman.

But since Jadeja is also a spinner, one of Kuldeep or Chahal had to be benched, as more often it was the chinaman who was dropped owing to his drop in form. Yuzvendra Chahal reckons the combination wouldn’t have been broken if Jadeja were a seam-bowling all-rounder! Nonetheless, the Royal Challengers Bangalore leg-spinner says he would still be happy if the team wins matches even if he isn’t in the eleven.

“When Kuldeep Yadav and I used to play, Hardik Pandya was also there and he would bowl. In 2018 Hardik Pandya got injured and Ravindra Jadeja made a comeback (in white-ball cricket) as an all-rounder, the one who could also bat at number 7. Unfortunately, he is a spinner, we could have played together if he was a medium pacer. It was the demand of the team,” Yuzvendra Chahal told Sports Tak.

“Kuldeep and I played 50-50 matches in any series. Sometimes he would play 3 matches of a 5 matches of a series, sometimes I would get the chance. The team combination is needed, 11 players make a team and ‘Kulcha’ was not making it.

“We were there till Hardik was there, we were also given chances. The need of the team was to have an all-rounder at No. 7 position. I am happy even if I am not playing but the team is winning,” the 30-year-old stated.

While Kuldeep seems to have steered far away from the set-up, Yuzvendra Chahal now, too, isn’t a sure starter. He was dropped from the eleven in the T20I series against England and was replaced by Rahul Chahar. His form in the IPL 2021 also wasn’t inspiring while Chahar had a terrific season with the ball before the tournament was suspended.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Played With A Lot Of Pain, He Always Put The Team Ahead – Robin Uthappa Recalls 2008 CB Series Triumph In Australia