After a prolonged injury lay-off, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav says he wasn’t sure how to cope when he lost his place in the Indian team, but now he isn’t afraid of failure.
During the second unofficial ODI here on Sunday, he picked up four wickets, including a hat-trick, to lead India ‘A’ to victory over New Zealand ‘A’. I didn’t know how to cope with not getting enough playing time. During the injury layoff of four months, I realized that I needed to bowl faster and began working on it. As a result of this game, I am no longer afraid of failure,” Yadav said afterward. As a part of the ‘KulCha’ along with Yuzvendra Chahal, Yadav played 7 Tests, 69 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, but his form and injury have kept him out of the national side recently.
“When your failures are not so great, then you can learn. I returned to the Indian team in January. I didn’t fear the failure. I wanted to have fun playing. My aim is to keep making right lengths. (Getting) wickets isn’t my responsibility. I simply need to be able to bowl in the right locations,” he said.
“To be sincere, when I became injured, returning from it, knowing my rhythm was crucial. I was slightly slow. Following surgery, I’ve changed my rhythm and am bowling with greater effort and controlled.” Yadav had undergone an operation after suffering an injury to his knee during the IPL in September of last year.
After a lengthy recovery procedure, Yadav was able to be included in the series of three ODIs with West Indies and also replaced injured Washington Sundar in the three T20s played against Sri Lanka in February. In reality, Yadav featured in just one ODI against West Indies and one T20 against Sri Lanka. He was injured again the second time in his left hand when he was batting in the nets before his participation in the T20I game with South Africa in June.
“Right out of the IPL returning I was bowling really excellently in the IPL before getting struck in the nets, and ended up being out for two months. “In In the West Indies, I bowled extremely well, and in Zimbabwe too. Speed and accuracy were amazing.
After returning I’m playing red balls (unofficial Tests against New Zealand ‘A’). I played two games during the first match and the control was fantastic. I am extremely happy.” After healing from a wrist injury, Yadav took part in an T20I in the match against West Indies last month before participating for the series of three ODIs with Zimbabwe. Yadav claimed that the injury and recovery that followed made him realize his own body.
“When you play you’ll become more proficient. You’d like to keep playing but it’s not possible. I was unsure of what to do about it.
“The accident was lucky for me. I could recognize my body and , upon returning I started thinking about my pace. It’s a challenge, but you need to look at the other side also well…It is always difficult when you play in India,” he said.
