IPL 2019: Dinesh Karthik reveals why KKR dropped ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav against SRH

Kuldeep Yadav is expected to be one of India’s trump cards in the upcoming World Cup but the chinaman bowler has been a complete disappointment in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 24-year-old, who has been picked as the youngest member of the Indian squad for the upcoming tournament, managed just four wickets in nine games for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and was dropped from the XI in the crucial away tie against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

KKR suffered their fifth consecutive loss of the tournament as the SRH crushed them by 9 wickets in a one-sided game. Kuldeep’s replacement KC Cariappa was no better in the game against SRH as he conceded 34 runs in two overs. The visiting team put up a modest total of 159 for 8 in 20 overs and then could manage to pick just one wicket and the successful bowler was debutant Prithvi Raj. SRH playing at home knocked off the total with five overs to spare, exposing the KKR’s poor bowling performance this season.

Kuldeep being dropped from the XI would not send a good signal to the Indian team management which is keeping a close watch on the performance of the 15 players who have been picked in the WC squad. Barely six weeks ahead of the big tournament, Kuldeep has seen a nosedive in form following a successful stint in international cricket.

In KKR’s previous match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens, Kuldeep was even seen breaking down on the ground after Moeen Ali launched a brutal attack on the young bowler.

Gave Kuldeep break to get him back fresh, says Karthik

KKR captain Dinesh Karthik, who will be playing alongside Kuldeep in the World Cup, conceded that the spinner was dropped in the game against the SRH because of his ordinary form. “A form issue with (Kuldeep) – as he couldn’t stand up for us in the last game. We had to give him a break and get him back fresh,” Karthik said after the game.

“Our bowling has been off colour in the tournament. Our fielding needs a lot of improvement too,” he added.

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