Andre Russell and Kuldeep Yadav are two important players of Kolkata Knight Riders franchises. They have showcased their talents many times for the side. Along with their strengths, they have some weaknesses as well. Recently Kuldeep Yadav shared that Andre Russell has a weakness against the turning ball and further added that he has enough tricks to restrict the power hitter of West Indian in the upcoming World Cup. Russell has scored 257 runs off 121 balls with a strike rate of 212.39 in this IPL so far.
“He has some problems facing a turning ball. If the ball is turning, then he has a weakness,” Kuldeep Yadav said. “It’s not just this, I’ve different plans to unleash against him in the World Cup. I know how to stop him and I’m very clear in my mind,” he added.
“He does not take chance against spinners. He’s a terror for pacers. And I’ve never bowled him at the nets. You are always under pressure when you’re hit for two sixes in a row,” he further said. “It’s important how you come back. All it takes is one ball to get the batsman out. You can assess a player’s character by that.”
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However, Kuldeep has taken three wickets only from six matches in the IPL so far. He further said that he has matured as a cricketer.
“If I’m not getting wickets it does not mean I’m not bowling well. Now I play as a matured cricketer and think more about the team. Even as I’m not taking wickets, my economy rate is tight,” he said. “I feel in this IPL batsmen are not attacking me so much. The batsmen are no more hitting big shots against me. I’m conceding three-four boundaries in every match which means batsmen are trying to play safe barring one match against Delhi.”
“It’s such a format, you may have a bad day where you’re hit for runs. I’m not a magician who will do well in every match. You cannot say I will take so many wickets,” he told.
However, talking about IPL performance, he gave the example of his India teammate Yuzvendra Chahal, who has already taken nine wickets from six matches but his side Royal Challengers Bangalore have not won a single game.
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“Chahal performing well but team is not doing well. You have to play according to your plan. It does not matter if you take nine wickets when your team is at the bottom. I don’t think I’m not bowling well,” he expressed.
Kuldeep will look to play when KKR face Delhi Capitals at the Eden Gardens Friday. But he expressed that the pitch does not help spinners now.
“The wicket does not help spinners anymore as it used to three-four years ago. It has become batting-friendly wicket. Good for T20 cricket,” he said.
While talking about the busy IPL schedule and upcoming World Cup, Kuldeep said they are too smart to handle themselves.
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“IPL is very different than World Cup. There’s no pressure in franchise cricket. You are under a lot of pressure when you play for India. Someone doing well in IPL also struggles for India. But of course you carry that confidence,” Kuldeep added.
