Kuldeep Yadav was not happy at KKR, DC management has given him the backing he needs: Nikhil Chopra

It has been an average IPL 2022 campaign for Delhi Capitals, wherein they have managed to secure three wins in six appearances. However, in their last fixture, they bowled well and chased down the target of 116 in a matter of 10.3 overs. Currently, they are facing the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their seventh fixture. The former Indian cricketer Nikhil Chopra has shared his views on Kuldeep Yadav’s performance.

Chopra reckoned that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team management and the experienced players did not support Kuldeep in his bad phase. However, he felt that Kuldeep has received the required backing from the DC head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Rishabh Pant. Chopra said that the left-arm wrist spinner is enjoying the opportunity to take wickets and secure victories for the team in the ongoing season. Kuldeep is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 13 wickets in six appearances.

“Kuldeep was not happy with the way KKR treated him in the last edition, and he got emotional as well during one of the matches. An international player requires the confidence of his team but was not visible from their side. Things have gradually changed in the Delhi Capitals team, as when he takes the wicket, he immediately hugs his captain, Pant. He is relishing the opportunity to take the wickets and win the game for DC with the team management’s support,” said Nikhil Chopra on Sky247.net presents ‘Not Just Cricket Show’ on CricTracker.

Nikhil Chopra recalls the backing from Sourav Ganguly in 1999

Chopra recalled his own story from the 1999 fixture against West Indies, after discussing Kuldeep’s form and the backing he has received from the DC captain. The former Indian cricketer revealed that he was out of the contention for the final ODI fixture against West Indies in the Toronto Cricket Festival series due to injury concerns. However, Sourav Ganguly provided him the confidence and hailed him as his main bowler, and the result, Chopra finished with his career-best figures of 5/21. This performance helped the team to win the series 2-1.

“In the 1999 fixture against West Indies, Sourav Ganguly captained for the first time. I had already picked three wickets in the first two matches of the ODI series, and it was a deciding fixture of the series. I had little bit of injury concerns ahead of the fixture, and the physio was telling me that I could not run and take a break. I gave this information to Dada [Sourav Ganguly], but he said you bowl 10 overs for me, you are my main bowler. Then I took the pain killers and by the grace of God, I took five wickets. The confidence from the captain helped me to finish with the best figures of my career,” Chopra added.

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