Kuldeep Yadav, the DC spinner, has spoken candidly for the first time about his time at KKR. Yadav had a challenging time at the franchise due to his inconsistent bowling, which eventually led to his omission from the team. Between 2019 and 2021, the spinner’s confidence was at an all-time low. During that period, he also battled injuries. After joining the Delhi Capitals under Rishabh Pant’s leadership, Yadav made a triumphant return to the IPL. Since the 2022 season, Yadav has been in exceptional form, claiming 41 wickets in 33 IPL matches. Speaking about his time at KKR, Yadav expressed regret over his lack of maturity during that period. Yadav faced criticism at KKR for his slow bowling, which made his turn and bounce as a wrist spinner ineffective. “I needed guidance at KKR, but now I don’t need it because I dictate terms now,” Yadav said, reflecting on his success in the past year and a half. “In 2019, Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni, his national team mentor) had retired that year, and I needed guidance. The understanding that I have now has come with experience.” Yadav is entrusted with bowling the most challenging overs, including the powerplay. When asked about his recipe for success, he attributed it to facing challenges head-on. “I still regret my time in KKR (from 2016-2020) and feel that whatever I am doing now, I wish I could have done it back then,” Yadav said at a media event organized by DC. “It still hurts me that if I had worked on those skills back then, I could have dominated even more,” Yadav added. While Yadav acknowledged his inexperience as a factor in his struggles, he also recognized that it has made him a better player going forward. “But it didn’t happen back then because experience is something that you get only when you play a lot. When you encounter setbacks in life, that’s when you learn, and now I’m more confident in my abilities while also respecting the fact that the opposition can be strong too,” the spinner said. Maturity has had a positive impact on Yadav over the years. “Back then, I didn’t [respect the opposition]. I believed in my abilities, but you also need to understand how the batsman is playing, and that maturity has come, knowing my strength and where to bowl so that it’s difficult to hit. I’m working on that,” Yadav added. Yadav has been in excellent form in the 2024 season. With 10 wickets from five matches, he is a contender for the Purple Cap.
Kuldeep Yadav Breaks Silence on KKR Days, Regrets Lack of Maturity
