Don't need to say that I was dependent on MS Dhoni: Kuldeep Yadav

You might have heard MS Dhoni standing behind the stumps and guiding young bowlers. Some of that advice from Dhoni is often heard on the stump mic. You would hear him always guide Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal where to bowl and how to bowl. More often than not, his advice turns out to be fruitful for the bowler.

In a recent interview, Kuldeep Yadav has claimed that he is not dependant on Dhoni entirely. The young chinaman bowler has credited it as a team effort. He though pointed out that Dhoni being an experienced player gives his valuable insights on the game from time to time.

Just because Mahi Bhai hasn’t played after the World Cup, I don’t need to prove anything to anyone: Kuldeep Yadav

“Of course. Mahi Bhai has always guided me because the wicketkeeper is always the best judge of the bowler. Someone like Mahi Bhai is experienced and has an idea about how a batsman plays. All of this is teamwork,” Kuldeep Yadav told the Times of India in an interview.

Kuldeep, who has often credited the former Indian captain for his success, made it clear that his performance since the World Cup speaks a volume about his skills. Dhoni has not played a single match for India since the semi-final loss against New Zealand in last year’s World Cup. Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have since shared the wicketkeeping role in the limited-overs format.

“Just because Mahi Bhai hasn’t played after the World Cup, I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. I don’t need to say if I was dependent on him. I can just work towards bettering my craft and as I said, it’s teamwork,” the left-arm wrist spinner added.

Talking about his camaraderie with fellow leg-spinner Chahal, Kuldeep pointed out that since the World Cup, the pair often called ‘KulCha’ hasn’t played together. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, India has stuck with Ravindra Jadeja as their all-rounder batting at no.7. This has created a situation where only one leg-spinner plays along with three front line pacers.

“Wrist spin is not that easy. Chahal and I have bonded well for years. After the World Cup, we haven’t played together because it depends on the selection and team combination. You’ve got to be flexible with the team’s requirements,” the 25-year-old spinner said.