Kuldeep Yadav

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"Kuldeep Yadav's arrival on the national scene around 2017 fixed an old typo in India's glorious spin chapter. The land of world-class tweakers had wily leggies, graceful orthodox left-armers and classy offies, but a Chinaman was missing from the sparkling bouquet. At the start of this millennium, it was a modest club coach in Kanpur who gave Indian cricket a rare talent. Like many kids at his academy, Kuldeep, 8, had dreams of bowling pace. He bowled with his left hand and was passionate about the game. Not too tall and reed thin, the coach one day asked the youngster to bowl spin. To his surprise, Kuldeep released the ball from the back of his hand. “Tu aaj se yahi daalega (From today, this is how you will bowl),” he told his ward. That would be the beginning for a great chapter. Kuldeep would first represent India at the U-19 World Cup and soon make his Test debut. However, with the world-class spin pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja around, he would spend many games doing drinks duty. In white-ball cricket too, Kuldeep continued to give the ball air and look to beat the batsmen with turn. It hasn't always worked with the Chinaman proving costly. His career would have ups and downs, but he survived the trauma and emerged as India's main wicket-taker in those middle overs in one-dayers.

One-day memories: (6/25 against England at Trent Bridge, 2018)

Virat Kohli called it one of the best ODI spells he had seen. It was the first game of the ODI series and the English batters had no idea which way the ball would turn. Joe Root was beaten by a ball that came in and the bat was nowhere close to it. Another reputed international batsman of this era, Babur Azam, has been clean- bowled by a similar Kuldeep ball.

One more thing: A die-hard Barcelona FC fan, Kuldeep has continued to support the club even after Messi left it. He, however, hopes for the Argentine star to return to the Spanish club."

• 👁 How can Kuldeep get better? Deep Dasgupta answers: ‘Can’t be hit for a six over square-leg’
  

  How can Kuldeep get better? Deep Dasgupta answers: ‘Can’t be hit for a six over square-leg’

• 👁 ‘Eighteen years, it hurts’: DC rue poor form of Axar, Kuldeep as IPL 2026 exit looms with KKR defeat
  

  ‘Eighteen years, it hurts’: DC rue poor form of Axar, Kuldeep as IPL 2026 exit looms with KKR defeat