Competitors but friends: Kuldeep Yadav says he and Yuzvendra Chahal have a good understanding | Cricket News – Times of India

On Thursday, the Kanpur-born Yadav showcased his brilliance, taking an outstanding 4 wickets for just 6 runs in a mere three overs.

This stellar performance played a crucial role in India’s five-wicket victory over the West Indies for a 1-0 lead in the three-ODI series.
Yadav’s googlies, especially the ones that turned away from right-handed batsmen, were particularly challenging to read and proved to be a key factor in his success. He was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his exceptional display.

“Most of the times, when I don’t get to play, it is because of the situation and combination. It is a normal thing now. I have been playing cricket for so many years; it has been more than six years now. These things are normal,” he told reporters during the post-match press conference.
“I don’t think much about taking wickets now. My focus is more on the process, that what length I should be bowling,” he said.
Despite an impressive record of 19 wickets from 9 ODIs this year, Kuldeep has struggled to secure a consistent spot in the Indian side across formats.

This inconsistency was evident when he was omitted from the second Test against Bangladesh despite his outstanding performance in the previous match. In that game, he took eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul, and also made a significant contribution with the bat by scoring 40 runs in the first innings. Despite his valuable all-round performance, he found himself out of the eleven for the subsequent Test match.
“Since the past one and half years, when I have returned from injury, I have tried to bowl on those good lengths. I want to be more consistent with the length, and as far are wickets are concerned, on some days you will get the wicket, while on others you won’t.
“Situation is also very important. I try my variations only when the opposition has lost four or five wickets quickly.”

‘Chahal and I share a good understanding’
Kuldeep said competition in the Indian team only motivates him to do well and he is focusing more on his process than performance.
“Competition will always be there in the Indian cricket team, but it motivates you as well to do well, as you can’t take anything lightly. For me, process is more important than performance.
“I have been working at the NCA on by bowling, on my length. When you get the opportunity, you try to make it count,” he said.
Kuldeep and his wrist-spinning counterpart Chahal became a renowned duo, given the name ‘Kul-Cha,’ and left a significant mark whenever they played together. Their combination was highly effective, amassing an impressive tally of 135 wickets in just 34 games.

However, it has been a while since the two spinners shared the field, as in the first ODI of the series in West Indies, Kuldeep was favored over Chahal.
“We are pretty relaxed. We know that combination matters a lot. We have a good understanding. He helps me a lot when I am playing. He always wants me to give my best. At the same time, I also share my opinions when he gets the chance to play.
“The ‘Kul-Cha’ has done well over the years because we support each other,” he said.

(AI image)