Xtra Time Web Desk: Kolkata Knight Riders chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav on Friday revealed that he looks up to Mike Horne for motivation. The South African-born Swiss professional explorer and adventurer have been with the Kolkata Knight Riders since the time the franchise won the tournament for the first time in 2008.
According to Kuldeep, “I owe a lot to Mike Horne, the way he motivates the cricketers at KKR. He always emphasizes to never give up. He keeps telling us that as a sportsman we should not leave a battlefield. He gave us the self belief to keep fighting until we taste success.”
The left arm spinner admitted he was not the same bowler four years back.
“Had I played a match four years back, I wouldn’t have been matured enough and handled pressure well.”
But Horne’s pep talk has transformed him (Kuldeep) into a confident bowler.
“I was under pressure but I always backed myself to bounce back,” said the India bowler.
Talking about the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders spinner reckon, “ It (IPL) is one of the toughest league in world cricket at the moment.”