'Left-armed Shane Warne' - Michael Vaughan heaps praise on Kuldeep Yadav after Ranchi spin clinic

In a recent turn of events on the third day of the fourth Test between India and England in Ranchi, Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the unexpected hero, not only with the bat but also with the ball, leaving the cricket world buzzing.

India, struggling with seven wickets down, found an unlikely saviour in Kuldeep, who, alongside Dhruv Jurel, showcased sheer determination, facing 131 deliveries to steer India out of a tight spot. The left-arm spinner's resilience didn't stop there; he carried the momentum to his bowling, securing four crucial wickets by the end of the day.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan, impressed by Kuldeep Yadav's performance, likened him to the legendary late Shane Warne, stating that Kuldeep bowled like a left-armed Warne.

"The best compliment I can give Kuldeep. Today he has bowled like a left-armed Shane Warne," Vaughan wrote on 'X'.

He had tears in his eyes: Kuldeep

Kuldeep's journey has been a tale of growth, from a nervous debutant in 2017 to becoming a key player in both red and white-ball formats for India. His special bond with Warne came to light in 2018 when the Australian legend offered calming words before Kuldeep's first Test series against Australia. 

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Recalling the moment, Kuldeep Yadav shared that when he secured a five-wicket haul in Sydney, he dedicated the achievement to Shane Warne, and Warne had tears in his eyes.

“I was very nervous before the match. He came to me and said, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to bowl in this match. But I just want you to be happy on the ground. Just do it with a smile.’ I remembered that and when I took a fifer (in Sydney), I dedicated it to him. He had tears in his eyes," Kuldeep revealed during an episode of the YouTube talk show Breakfast With Champions.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's seasoned spinner, also lauded Kuldeep's dual role in the match. Ashwin praised Yadav's composure, acknowledging the challenging situation when he was sent to bat early. 

“It was hard on him (Kuldeep) yesterday, we sent him to bat a bit too early than what he would have desired. I felt his defence was good, he showed a lot of grit and composure, kept the dressing room calm," Ashwin said as quoted by Indian Express.

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