Former Indian keeper-batter and commentator Deep Dasgupta has shared his views on the attacking wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav being left out of the playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Deep asserted that a bowler like Kuldeep required more backing from the outside when compared to other players, adding that the wrist spinner gave his best under MS Dhoni.
“Spinners in general are of two types. Some are naturally confident no matter what, and others for whom confidence is external and they need backing. I think Kuldeep needs backing. Look at his best periods. It has been when MS was behind the stumps. I feel he needs that validation more compared to other bowlers. And when you don’t get that and are not playing regularly, he does not get the confidence he needs. Some players are like that,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Kuldeep could scalp only one wicket in 25 overs in the first Test. The former keeper felt that not being part of the XI could also play on the wrist-spinner’s mind and confidence. Notably, Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Sarash Jain replaced the wrist spinner in the second Test.
“Him not playing regularly or getting dropped does not help. It plays slightly more on his confidence and mind, as compared to someone like Yuzi Chahal or even Ashwin, for that matter, if I talk of his contemporaries,” he added.
Deep Dasgupta also delved into the technical aspects of Kuldeep’s bowling, stating that in his attempt to bowl quicker, he compromised with spin, which made it easier for the batters to tackle him, resulting in him not taking many wickets.
“Kuldeep’s case has been tough. His pace is less. And a big reason for this is that the right portion of his hand opens up very fast towards the leg stump, and then he bowls only with the arm. He was dropped for this before as well and did work on it. He changed his run-up and made it slightly quicker. But even now, the issue is there. The zip off the pitch becomes problematic,” he said.
“You can question that this was his action even before, so what is the difference now? The problem is that five years earlier, he was still younger and stronger, and with age, strength and power do go down a bit. On a slow pitch, the turn is very slow, so batters can manage. You try to bowl a bit faster. But when you do that, you compromise on spin. As he is only bowling with the arm and trying to bowl fast, he is not getting as much purchase and turn. It’s not like he cannot change it, though. It is about alignment,” he concluded.
