Key Points

Kuldeep Yadav is soaking up knowledge from Ravindra Jadeja ahead of India's Test series in England. The young spinner has been working closely with Jadeja on tactics and field placements. With Ashwin retired, Jadeja's guidance is proving invaluable for Kuldeep. His recent form, including 19 wickets against England earlier this year, makes him a strong contender for selection.

Key Points: Kuldeep Yadav Learns From Jadeja Ahead of England Test Series

  • Kuldeep improving tactics under Jadeja's mentorship
  • Jadeja likely India's lead spinner in England
  • Kuldeep's impressive 56 wickets in 13 Tests
  • Could play key role if conditions favor two spinners
3 min read

Kuldeep Yadav learning from Jadeja ahead of England Test Series

Kuldeep Yadav reveals how Ravindra Jadeja is mentoring him ahead of India's England Test series, sharing insights on tactics and field placements.

"Playing alongside Jadeja is such a great honour for me. - Kuldeep Yadav"

London, June 15

As India gears up for their five-match Test series in England, spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been spending a lot of time with Ravindra Jadeja, both on and off the field. Kuldeep said he's been learning a lot from Jadeja, picking his brain and trying to improve his own game.

Kuldeep has only played one Test in England before, at Lord's in 2018, where he gave away 44 runs in nine overs without taking a wicket but since then, he has developed into a much stronger and more effective bowler. Now, he has 56 wickets in 13 Tests, with an impressive average of 22.16 and a strike rate of 37.3 -- the best for any spinner in Test history with at least 50 wickets.

Jadeja is expected to be India's main spinner on this tour due to his all-round skills, but if conditions allow for two spinners, Kuldeep could get a chance. He played a key role in India's 4-1 Test series win over England at home earlier this year, taking 19 wickets in four matches at an average of 20.15.

"Playing alongside Jadeja is such a great honour for me," Kuldeep said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"Obviously, Jadeja and (Ravichandran) Ashwin have been brilliant over the last few years. When I made my debut in India, they helped me a lot. And even now, we have been having a lot of chat about how to bowl to certain batters, given the way the England batters are batting at the moment," he added.

"I'm actually spending a lot of time with him, not only on the field, but also outside as well. So it has actually helped me a lot in terms of tactics and the field placements, and he has given some tips as well," he noted.

Kuldeep also mentioned that during team travel, he now sits next to Jadeja on the bus, a seat previously taken by Rohit Sharma, who has retired from Test cricket. Laughing about the change, he seemed happy to be learning from Jadeja's experience.

"I can never take Rohit bhai's place," he said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"It's just that I'm spending a lot of time with Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) bhai. It's obviously very important for me as a spinner, because Ash bhai (Ashwin, also retired) isn't there, and I've learned a lot from Ash bhai, and now that he isn't there, (I'm looking to learn from) whichever senior player is there," Kuldeep added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
Great to see Kuldeep learning from Jadeja! Our spin twins have been world class for years. Hope this partnership helps Kuldeep adapt to English conditions better this time. That 2018 performance was forgettable but he's come a long way since then. #TeamIndia 🇮🇳
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Priya M.
Jadeja is the perfect mentor - his game awareness is next level! But I hope selectors don't over-rely on him. Need to give Kuldeep proper chances too. His stats are brilliant but he needs more overseas experience to become truly world-class.
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Amit S.
Honestly, I'm more excited about Kuldeep than Jadeja for this series. English batters struggle against quality wrist spin, and Kuldeep's variations could be lethal if he gets his lengths right. Hope Dravid and Rohit back him properly! 🤞
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Shweta R.
The humility in Kuldeep's words is so refreshing! "I can never take Rohit bhai's place" - shows how grounded he is despite being a match-winner. This is why I love our cricket team - the senior-junior bonding is special. 💙
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Vikram J.
While this is heartwarming, I hope our team management has a clear plan. Last England tour, we messed up our spin combinations badly. Jadeja+Kuldeep could work at Oval but not at Headingley. Need to be flexible based on conditions.
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Neha P.
That stat about Kuldeep having the best strike rate for spinners with 50+ wickets is insane! 😲 People forget he's still only 29 - could become India's greatest ever wrist spinner if he stays fit. More power to him for continuously improving his game!

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