KOLKATA: Changing the colour of the jersey is nothing new in franchise cricket, but some separations often carry a scar with them. Indication of some bitterness surfaced when the Kolkata Knight Riders released Kuldeep Yadav ahead of IPL auction 2022.
Kuldeep, who joined KKR as an uncapped player way back in 2014, picked up 40 wickets for them in 45 matches at an average of 30.90 and an economy rate of 8.27.
Things turned worse for the 27-year-old as he didn’t get picked for a single game in the first half of IPL 2021. He featured in only five matches last season and nine in the season before that.
Talking about his struggle, Kuldeep had stated that communication has been “weak” between him and the KKR management. “It becomes very difficult when the communication is weak. Sometimes you don’t even know whether you will be playing or not, or what the team expects from you,” Kuldeep had stated.
The Chinaman bowler stated he waited for his chances. “Sometimes you feel that you are deserving to play, can win matches for the team, but you don’t know the reason why you are not playing,” he remarked. The Uttar Pradesh player felt things become difficult in franchise cricket since “the management comes for two months with their plans.”
Kuldeep, whom former India coach Ravi Shastri described as India’s No.1 spinner overseas after he had bagged a five-wicket haul in the Sydney Test against Australia in 2018-19 series, even lost his place in the national side.
Picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2 crore in the auction, the spinner immediately made an impact being judged the man-of-the-match for helping DC make a winning start to their campaign against Mumbai Indians picking up three for 18.
His new teammate Axar Patel’s comment after his success also pointed to a bitter past. “It’s all about the mindset. He was struggling in the IPL as his place was not secured for KKR,” Patel had said.
DC’s highest wicket-taker so far, Kuldeep thus might have a score to settle when he faces his old side at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
