Is Kuldeep Yadav Really Missing MS Dhoni Behind the Stumps?

Kuldeep Yadav got an opportunity to play for India in the first ODI match against Zimbabwe. However, he also played in the last T20I against West Indies. In that game, he picked up three wickets. But, in the ODI, he failed to take a single wicket in his 10 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav bowled a tidy spell as he conceded only 36 runs in 10 overs. But, he was the only bowler who failed to take any wicket. Now, a former India spinner, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan came out with a big claim regarding his performance. He said that Kuldeep Yadav must be missing MS Dhoni’s guidance behind the stumps.

“MS Dhoni would advice Kuldeep and Chahal on what to bowl.” – Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

Speaking in ‘School of Cricket’ on Sony SIX, Sivaramakrishnan opened up the difference in Kuldeep’s style since the departure of former India captain, MS Dhoni. He said: “Dhoni was brilliant. A keeper would make a lot of difference. If the batsman was playing on the back foot, a wicketkeeper would ask the bowler to bowl a lot fuller. Kuldeep was slower through his air, and the batsman was playing on the back foot, so he has got to make the batsman drive. Because the ball is coming slowly, it won’t be easy to drive.”

He also said that MS Dhoni would have advised Kuldeep Yadav on what to bowl next to a batsman during his time. “Wicketkeeper would be an ideal person to tell that. He should also be able to read the batsman. He can advice the bowler accordingly. Dhoni was not only a good reader of the game, but he was also a good reader of the batsman. He would advice Kuldeep and Chahal on what to bowl. 

However, the former spinner also said that situation during the first match was different for Kuldeep Yadav. Hence, he can look to deliver some surprise performances in the upcoming matches. “But today, the situation was different. He was making a comeback, he wanted to protect himself. He wanted to play all three matches. So he just bowled a tidy spell. But I just hope he sticks to one line, whether he bowls a googly or leg breaks. Get the batsman by surprise,” Laxman Sivaramakrishnan concluded.