Kuldeep Yadav’s Time to Shine Has Finally Arrived

Ravindra Jadeja’s mimicry of Kuldeep Yadav has gone viral on social media. Now, what needs to go viral over the next two weeks is Kuldeep’s performance.

There has never been any doubt about Kuldeep’s talent. But his career has been a stop-start one. Has he been given the opportunities he deserves? Perhaps not. Yet he has stayed the course and persevered. That is the quality one should look for in a sportsperson, and it is a quality Kuldeep has displayed in abundance.

The day before yesterday, I was in conversation with distinguished banker and corporate leader Shyam Srinivasan at the launch of his book at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Shyam was asked what one piece of advice he would give the students in attendance. Interestingly, he told them to simply show up. Not every day will be a good one, and not every day will bring success. In fact, there will be far more days of disappointment than triumph. Yet all you need to do is keep showing up. That, according to Shyam, is the mantra for success, and it is exactly what we have seen from Kuldeep.

I met Kuldeep a few weeks ago at Lord’s. He had just finished training and was walking back from the Nursery Ground. He has always been a good friend, so it was only natural that we would stop for a chat. Spotting me standing beneath the Media Centre, Kuldeep walked over with a smile and said, “Dada, kaise ho [How are you]? Look at the colour of your shoes!” I was wearing purple trainers. Then he said three words that have stayed with me: “Laga hua hoon [I’m keeping at it].”

Kuldeep does not decide whether he makes the playing XI. That is not in his hands. He is neither the captain nor the coach. What is in his control is to keep showing up, day after day, and be ready whenever the opportunity presents itself. And when that chance comes, make it count.

In Sri Lanka, Kuldeep is almost certain to get his opportunity. On pitches expected to assist spin, he could well be India’s go-to bowler. If India are to stay alive in the World Test Championship race, Shubman Gill and his team need to win this series, and Kuldeep could prove to be their trump card. He knows that better than anyone and will be raring to go.

Kuldeep’s love for football is well known. He once attended a Mohun Bagan versus East Bengal match in Kolkata and watched every game of the FIFA World Cup. He even harbours an ambition of becoming a football coach after retirement. To use a football reference, he is a lot like Vozinha. Opportunities do not come along too often, and when they do, they must be seized. Vozinha did exactly that and earned a place in the FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament.

Back in 2019, Ravi Shastri identified Kuldeep as India’s go-to spinner in Test cricket. Things have not unfolded as expected since then, and he has spent far too many matches on the sidelines. Can Kuldeep finally turn the corner and establish himself as India’s lead spinner in Sri Lanka? If he does, it could define not only his own journey but India’s fortunes in the series.

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