Kuldeep Yadav acknowledges that it is never easy to switch formats quickly. The senior India spinner expects that players who have just finished a demanding IPL season would be well-prepared for this week’s one-off Test match against Afghanistan, just as he was with prolonged red-ball practice.
Kuldeep had a poor season with just 10 wickets from 12 games, and his team, the Delhi Capitals, did not qualify for the IPL playoffs. Prior to the Test starting on Saturday, Kuldeep spoke with PTI about how he had been practicing net sessions for the previous two weeks in order to get into the red-ball flow.
“It is tough when you switch from IPL cricket to red-ball cricket. Preparation becomes very necessary. Luckily, I got time. I practiced for at least 10 to 15 days and got the feel of the red ball,” Kuldeep said in the exclusive interaction facilitated by series broadcasters ‘JioHotstar’.
“In T20, you are always attacking. You always think about going after the batter. You stay in the game with that mindset. But in Test cricket, it’s not like that. The batter has a lot of time. Some players are coming straight after the IPL final. They don’t have that much time. But I’m sure they have prepared well. So yes, it’s a challenge, but I’m confident that everyone is preparing themselves well,” he added.
He believes that patience and attention to detail are the other essential components of Test preparation.
“Consistency of bowling on a good length matter. That is a big challenge. Tactics matter a lot. Which angles you are bowling from, which crease position you are using, all these become very important. Small things like giving flight to the ball, deceiving the batter in the air, using the red ball well. There are many things, but for that you need time,” he said.
If Kuldeep plays the game, then for the first time in his career, he would neither have a Ravichandran Ashwin (now retired) nor a Ravindra Jadeja (rested) alongside him in the line-up.
Kuldeep acknowledged that the absence of Jadeja for this game and even Axar Patel would be felt but expressed confidence in rookies Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey’s ability to shine at the highest level.
“Yes, Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) is not there, as he is a regular Test player. We will also miss Axar Patel in the Test match. But the preparations have been good. Many youngsters are here – Harsh, Manav. Washi (Washington Sundar) is also playing Test cricket quite regularly now, so he is well settled in the set-up,” he said.
The seasoned spinner is also fully aware of his new role in the team and the additional duty of supporting the newbies. However, he wants to be a “partner” to Suthar and Dubey rather than a conventional mentor. The 31-year-old wants the newcomers to feel at ease in the setup and to consult him whenever they see fit.
“Whenever a new player joins the team, your job is to make him comfortable. You want him to see you as a partner. If he has any problem, he should feel free to talk to you, and you must be ready to support him. Right now, there is good bonding with two or three of the younger players. It feels good to have them around,” Kuldeep added.
According to Kuldeep, the most effective method of integrating youngsters is to ask pertinent questions and gauge their level of game understanding.
“We talk freely as a group, especially about the conditions. If I want to test the youngsters, then I ask them questions regarding their understanding of the pitch, the weather conditions, and how should the team approach the match.”
“So, our conversations are mostly about basic tactics, what lengths to bowl, what pace works on this surface, and how spinners need to be patient in Test cricket. Patience is everything in this format,” the man with 365 international wickets across three formats said.
Although Dubey and Suthar are new players, Kuldeep says their preparation has been excellent.
“Over the last two years, these young players (Dubey and Suthar) have been part of India A tours. They are also playing the Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy regularly. So, there might be a lack of international experience, but when it comes to preparation, match awareness, or red-ball cricket, they are absolutely on top because they are playing regularly,” he said.
