‘When you behave like this, any match-winner feels the pressure’ - Mohammad Kaif calls out KKR over Kuldeep Yadav's treatment

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has praised Kuldeep Yadav on his brilliant comeback in the IPL. Kuldeep was roped in by the Delhi Capitals at the mega auction 2022 and was given his cap for the team on March 27 as the Capitals faced Mumbai Indians in their campaign opener.

In just his first game for DC, Kuldeep registered bowling figures of 3/18, and eventually went on to win the Player of the Match award. The 27-year-old impressed everyone with his astonishing performance and Kaif became one of the many. Kaif feels that the DC team management will have to look after Kuldeep closely, as the spinner tends to lose his confidence if he doesn’t play consistently.

“Kuldeep Yadav is a proven match-winner. But he is someone who also needs to be managed well. He is a bit emotional and feels low if he isn’t given the bowling or is dropped from the team,” he told Sportskeeda.

Speaking of the way KKR handled the player in his previous stint with the team for the past few years, the 41-year-old said: “The way he was treated at KKR when Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan were the captains, he used to be made to sit at home and not even in the squad. When you behave like this, any match-winner feels the pressure.”

Axar Patel’s career is progressing similar to that of Ravindra Jadeja: Mohammad Kaif

Kaif also spoke about Axar Patel and addressed his match-winning performance against Mumbai Indians. In the recently concluded game, Axar and Lalit Yadav put up a 75-run partnership and sailed their team towards a thrilling victory.

Comparing Axar with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Kaif said: “Axar Patel’s career is progressing similar to that of Ravindra Jadeja. When Jadeja was new, he used to bowl well, but it was only later that his batting improved. Axar has a great bat-swing and has the ability to hit good bowlers like Bumrah. Finishing a game with the bat is not what he is known for but he will only get better with confidence.”

Delhi Capitals defeated Mumbai Indians by four wickets in the second game of IPL 2022.