Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj speak ahead of crucial Ahmedabad Test (Agencies) India spinner Kuldeep Yadav says he is entering a crucial phase of his red-ball career and insists the next few years will determine his place in Test cricket. As India prepares for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, Kuldeep said he is focusing on fitness, a clear role and maintaining the form that brought him back into the national set-up across formats.
Interview with Bhuvneshwar Kumar: On the art of swing, managing workload, fast bowler injuries and more
Speaking to JioStar’s “Follow The Blues”, Kuldeep said that his approach to the ball has not changed. “I’m very clear as an attacking bowler, I know my role over the years. The coach and the captain have given me a lot of clarity and support. I always keep an attacking mindset and pass accordingly. That’s my job: to take wickets. That’s how they look at me,” he said. He added that Test cricket remains a priority at this stage of his career. “Everybody loves Test cricket. It’s a format that everybody enjoys but it’s also very demanding. Obviously you want to play in all formats but if you get an opportunity to play Test cricket, you’ll enjoy it,” he said. Kuldeep admitted that the coming years will carry extra weight. “Playing in all formats for India is a luxury. The next 4-5 years are very important for me in Test cricket, so I will focus on maintaining my fitness and continue like this.” With India trailing 0-1 after a 30-run defeat at the Eden Gardens, the pressure shifts to Guwahati, who are hosting the Test for the first time. The conditions remain unknown and the Indian attack will be tested again against a South African side that defended 123 in Kolkata. Pacer Mohammed Siraj said the challenge of facing strong opposition helps sharpen his game. “When you play against a good team and play against good batsmen and take wickets from them, you get a lot of confidence,” Siraj said.
Vote
Which format of cricket do you think Kuldeep Yadav should prefer at this stage of his career?
He added that such competitions offer quick lessons. “Because when you play against a strong team, you quickly realize where you go wrong. So it’s good that I’m playing against a team like South Africa. It’s a lot of fun.” India will look to level the series when the second and final Test begins on November 22.
