Kuldeep becomes the first chinaman bowler to play for India in tests
Internet Desk: A young Kuldeep Yadav wanted to become a fast bowler. His dream was to become a fast bowler like Wasim Akram, before he was asked to stop dreaming of becoming a fast bowler by his childhood coach Kapil Dev Pandey. A 12 year old Yadav went to Kapil Cricket Coaching Centre with his father. After watching him bowl at nets for a few days, Kapil asked him (Kuldeep) to hone his skills as a spin bowler. And that is how his journey started as a spin bowler.
“He was a very thin looking kid who dreamt of becoming Wasim Akram. I watched him bowl at the nets for almost 10-15 days and I told him that he doesn’t have the physique to bowl pace. I suggested him to bowl spin bowling,” said Kapil Dev Yadav to xtratime.in
It was a very interesting moment when Kuldeep bowled his first spin delivery. Kapil shared his experiences, saying, “I still remember the first ball he bowled, it sharply came inside to trouble the batsman. He didn’t know anything about chinaman bowling. In fact we all got surprised to see the turn he generated.
Speaking about Kuldeep’s dedication and hard work, Kapil said, “The day he realized what chinaman bowling was all about, he started to devote his heart and soul into it, mastering the art. He used to spent couple of hours bowling at the nets at the Rovers ground.”
Kuldeep, did had the opportunity to come across his idol Shane Warne in Pune. It was India coach Anil Kumble who organized the meeting with Warne. The legendary spinner gave him a few vital insights about spin bowling. He also gained a lot during his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, where he polished his art alongside Australian chinaman bowler Brad Hogg.
Kapil expected Kuldeep to make a debut for India during the New Zealand series.
“I expected him to make a debut a lot earlier during New Zealand series. I was very unhappy to see him sit in the reserve benches during the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders,” said Kapil.
Kuldeep was handed over the India cap by former leg spinner Laxman Shivaramakrishnan. It is no doubt that the wrist spinner from Kanpur is no short of talent. He made the headlines after his heroics in the 2014 ICC under-19 World Cup where he picked up a hat-trick.
Kuldeep’s debut also begins a new chapter in the history of Indian cricket as he becomes the first chinaman bowler to play for India.
Twitter flooded with good wishes and messages for the chinaman bowler. Leading the way is none other than master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. He is very impressed with Kuldeep’s performance on debut and wished he can carry on with the great start to international cricket.
I am impressed with @imkuldeep18's variations and the way he has started. Keep going strong, this can be your match to shine.
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 25, 2017