IND vs ZIM: Kuldeep Yadav Was Making A Comeback, He Wanted To Protect Himself - Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

Former cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan said that the leg-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, bowled defensively as it was his comeback match after an injury and wanted to retain his place in the playing XI.

Kuldeep went wicketless in the first ODI against Zimbabwe. Although he was unfortunate not to pick up a wicket following a controversial third umpire LBW decision, Kuldeep didn’t look threatening enough to effect a dismissal.

“He was making a comeback, he wanted to protect himself. He wanted to play all three matches. So he just bowled a tidy spell. But I just hope he sticks to one line, whether he bowls a googly or leg breaks. Get the batsman by surprise.”

“Dhoni was brilliant. A keeper would make a lot of difference. If the batsman was playing on the back foot, a wicketkeeper would ask the bowler to bowl a lot fuller. Kuldeep was slower through his air, and the batsman was playing on the back foot, so he has got to make the batsman drive. Because the ball is coming slowly, it won’t be easy to drive,” Sivaramakrishnan said on Sony Six.

“He would advice Kuldeep and Chahal on what to bowl” – Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on Dhoni

Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal had the best period of their career while Dhoni was the wicket-keeper. The duo went out of favour soon after Dhoni retired before they eventually made a comeback to the national team.

“Wicketkeeper would be an ideal person to tell that. He should also be able to read the batsman. He can advise the bowler accordingly. Dhoni was not only a good reader of the game, but he was also a good reader of the batsman. He would advise Kuldeep and Chahal on what to bowl,” added Sivaramakrishnan.

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