PRESS CONFERENCE
Follow UsThat Bazball has made Test cricket more interesting is not news anymore, but India found a very interesting way to contain their batters in Visakhapatnam after squandering the Hyderabad Test spoke about an approach that could be the bowlers’ answer to Bazball. With Jasprit Bumrah never letting batters settle down, spinners attacked with more precision, unafraid to go for runs but trying consistently to pick wickets.
In the first innings of the Visakhapatnam Test, Kuldeep Yadav found himself at home, forcing many errors from the England batters as they tried to score quickly against him. The wrist-spinner has found that very interesting, for Bazball brings him more into the game than the traditional approach.
"Usually, in Tests, you're not used to teams attacking you with this kind of approach, but it also involves you a lot more. As a spinner, it makes you more focused on how you want to bowl and what your approach is,” Kuldeep Yadav said in a press conference in Rajkot.
"Normally, when you play Tests, you don't worry about batters attacking you, you're only focused on how you want to get them out. But here, the approach is different, they're in attacking mode, so you also have to plan how to restrict them. When they play shots, you have those many opportunities to take wickets. It's interesting. I enjoyed it a lot, it's good for cricket,” the spinner added.
The very reason Kuldeep Yadav has played only nine Tests in his career - seven years after making his Test debut in a dramatic fashion in Dharamsala - is particularly down to his attacking factor. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja never let anyone threaten their place in the Test side, but the emergence of Axar Patel to bowl straight and pick a lot of wickets has been popularised as a narrative.
One still doesn’t know if Kuldeep will be a part of the upcoming game, but he wants to enjoy the ride till it lasts. "It's been good. Whatever Tests I've played, I've performed well. I have three five-fors, so yeah, it feels good when you see the stats. I'm very happy.
“Am not sure of my position. If I get the opportunity, I'll be more than happy. I don't think too much about whether am playing or not. I just enjoy my day and keep working hard. Combination is such a thing that it matters in a team game. As simple as that."
Rajkot has historically been a batting paradise. In 2016, the venue saw a tame draw between India and England - but if the indication from domestic cricket is anything to go by, there is a clear case to be made that there will be a lot of runs in the third Test.
"It'll be a batting wicket," Kuldeep said before adding, 'It doesn't mean there'll be 700-800 runs scored. It'll be a good wicket. It won't be a rank turner, it will be a live wicket, good for cricket. I haven't played on rank turners, I don't know what the approach or thought is, it's a team management decision. Obviously, everyone wants to watch good cricket. I don't know if I'll get an opportunity or not, but whether it's flat wicket or rank turner, I enjoy it. I think batting is also important, not just spin bowling. Fast bowling comes into the game as well. It's good for cricket. It's not like you'll see rank turners only, but hopefully, you'll see it."
