Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar has raised questions on Kuldeep Yadav’s form ahead of the all-important Champions Trophy. Kuldeep is going to hold the key for India in the middle overs and the onus of providing breakthroughs will be on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Manjrekar highlighted that Kuldeep must learn to vary his pace to get the better of the opposition batters. The renowned commentator urged Kuldeep to take a leaf out of Adil Rashid’s book.
Yadav returned with figures of 1-53 in the opening game against England at Nagpur and then registered figures of 1-38 in the eight overs he bowled in the third game. The wrist-spinner accounted for Tom Banton, producing his outside edge.
“Kuldeep Yadav worries me a little, as in the speed with which he bowls at. There was so much focus and criticism as to how slow he is. But the criticism was of the ball coming slow off the pitch, not about in the air. That is where he has made a compromise, and you understand why he had to get quick,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo after the third ODI.
“It’s almost like if he had to play for India, he had to bowl quicker. But what’s happening now is that only bowling quick and flat. His real greatness is the deception and the turn. The quicker you bowl, the less you are going to achieve that, so you become more pitch dependent,” he added.
On the other hand, Manjrekar reckons Adil Rashid varied his pace beautifully in the series and said Kuldeep can learn from the veteran leg-spinner.
“In comparison, I thought Adil Rashid had a great series because he was bowling to a quality Indian batting line-up. The wickets in this match, he has gone through the defence of good players. If you look at Adil Rashid’s speed along with the variations, it has oscillated from the mid 70s to late 80s, and even 90 kmph at times,” Manjrekar opined in the same interveiw.
“Kuldeep Yadav, on the other hand, has just remained in the 80s, and more in the high 80s. So, maybe Kuldeep could take a leaf out of Adil Rashid’s book,” he concluded.
India will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on February 20.
