Follow UsKuldeep Yadav didn’t feature in the league stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 thanks to the pacer-friendly nature of the wicket in New York but turned up big-time in the last two Super 8 encounters as the caravan moves to West Indies. Against Afghanistan and Bangladesh combined, Kuldeep Yadav has managed a total of five wickets - and will play a crucial role for Team India against Australia in St Lucia on June 24 (Monday).
When asked about Kuldeep’s outings so far, India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey was effusive in the praise of the wrist-spinner. “He's always been a class bowler, always done well for us, always won games for us initially as well. But unfortunately, because of the kind of wickets we played in the US, he couldn't get an opportunity, couldn't get a run.
"But good to see that he's come out last two games; he's done well. This was fabulous. I think he really bowled well, used the conditions very well and yeah, good to see that he's got in the run,” Mhambrey said in a pre-match press conference in St Lucia.
But if the wicket is going to behave the way it has in the Caribbean, does Mhambrey see a possibility of playing four spinners in knockouts?
“It all depends on what surface - I hope the surface won't be that spinner friendly, I think going in, yes, three spinners, I think just add the balance, but I'm not very sure all the other venues - in case, I'm saying I don't look like the surface is going to be that dry and going to turn so much but yeah if the surface is like that, there's a lot of wear and tear in the wicket yeah for a spinner if you think that's the best option you want to go and enter the game, you might as well go with it.”
India have won all five games in the World Cup pretty convincingly and are now three wins away from winning their second T20 World Cup trophy. The road ahead won’t be easy, particularly because of the kind of opponents awaiting India, but the bowling coach believes that if the execution is right, nothing will stop India.
“We played them initially. Earlier also a lot of these guys have played against them. A lot of guys have played in the IPL. So, in terms of knowing the game, what the approach is going to change has been similar to the past games that we played. I don't think it's going to change. I think it's all we can do is really focus on the implementation of our plans. And the bottom line is execution. I think if you're as close to execution, you will win every game.
“So, it's not about what the other opponent's going to do yet. We know what kind of approach they come with. That's the way they played in the past as well. But I think the focus purely should be on, that's what we will focus on in execution. And if we're as close to our plans, I'm pretty sure that we're going to cross the other side.”
Amid the success of bowlers in the ongoing edition, the biggest concerning factor for India has been the performance of two veteran performers - Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The duo have massively struggled to score runs for the side, but the former Vidarbha pacer didn’t want to judge their contributions on the basis of runs alone.
“I think Virat has been - in the last, we’ve seen from the IPL itself and Rohit from the World Cup. I think both of them in great form. I think every game there is a certain plan that you go in with. Sometimes some individual has to take a chance, the other has to play a defending role. So, I think that's going to happen out here, that's what is happening.
“Rohit is playing his natural game. But it's good to see that in this game especially, the intent that Virat has shown, I think that's good to see that, good to see that intent. And I think, performance - you'll have games like this, you'll get a 40-odd, 50-odd run, but I think the way he went about with the intent, that was good to see. That was heartening.
“And I think that's the intent that we want as a batting unit as well. This is something that we've been emphasizing throughout the previous World Cup and this World Cup as well. I think if you not show the intent and it's good to see that intent on the ground today,” Mhambrey concluded.
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