IPL 2017: Kuldeep Yadav tweaking the way for Kolkata Knight Riders

Kuldeep Yadav has been a regular wicket-taker for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 10th edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

This cricketing season is turning out to be a memorable one for Kuldeep Yadav. After his sensational Test debut against Australia at Dharamsala, the Chinaman bowler is turning heads with his shrewd bowling in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as well.

Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Kuldeep Yadav at a practice session at the Eden Garden in Kolkata. (PTI)

Yadav has eight wickets in his kitty from seven matches for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The 22-year-old was once again the star performer for KKR with his 2/31 against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) which included the big wickets of MS Dhoni and Manoj Tiwary in his final over.

Yadav is reaping rewards of a successful domestic season.

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It all began from the Ranji Trophy where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Uttar Pradesh with 35 wickets in 13 innings. It was the first time that Yadav played all domestic matches for his state, barring when he was on national duty.

Yadav topped the wickets chart in Duleep Trophy with 17 scalps in three matches for India Red.

Yadav’s biggest moment finally came in Dharamsala against Australia in the final Test where he claimed four for 68 on his debut and played a major role in India winning the series 2-1.

The seeds which were sowed during the domestic season are ripe now.

“That (playing full domestic season) has really helped. If you are the highest run-getter or highest wicket-taker, it obviously gives you the momentum when you are playing at a higher level,” Yadav said, reflecting on his good season after KKR’s seven-wicket win over RPS.

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“If you are not playing domestic season, you lack something. If you have played throughout – Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, one-dayers, T20s and then India A, it has been helpful to me and that is why I am so confident.”

Yadav’s variations with flippers and wrong’un along with his Chinaman have made the task tougher for batsmen. However, the Kanpur lad is keen to keep his Chinaman originality intact.

“These are all variations. You can bowl them in T20s to confuse the batsman. But I really believe in my Chinaman bowling rather than the wrong’un and flipper. I back that (Chinaman) more because that is my identity,” said Kuldeep.

“Wrong’un is a variation which you bowl when you look to take a wicket or contain the runs. Obviously, you get a wicket in wrong’un and the batsman also gets confused whether the ball will spin inside or outside. It becomes very difficult to pick it, especially foreign batsmen. So, if you get an Indian batsman like that, you get a lot of confidence,” he said.