Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Who wants to sit on the bench and watch teammates take the field? Who doesn’t want to see his name on the team sheet? It can be frustrating for any player. But Kuldeep Yadav handled it with remarkable calm.Whether it was carrying drinks, relaying the coach’s messages, bringing out bats, or applauding teammates with a smile, Kuldeep stayed fully involved with the team despite not being in the playing XI.In the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, where India lifted the title after defeating New Zealand in the final, teams often opted for spin-heavy combinations. Kuldeep was expected to play a bigger role, but that didn’t materialise.
India played eight matches in the tournament, including the final, but Kuldeep featured in just one game — the high-profile clash against Pakistan. He bowled three overs, conceded 14 runs and picked up one wicket.After that, he did not get another opportunity in the playing XI.Ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, Kuldeep spoke about dealing with the challenge of being benched.“Preparation becomes crucial, especially when you’re not getting games. I made sure there was no gap in my preparation so that whenever an opportunity came, I was ready,” Kuldeep told reporters ahead of the DC vs MI clash in New Delhi.“Even if you’re not playing, being with the team, attending practice sessions, and maintaining that match-ready mindset is important. Whether you play or not, your approach should always be that you’re ready for the next game,” he added.“Confidence comes from preparation. If your training and routines are in place, you will naturally feel confident, even though a bit of nervousness is always there,” Kuldeep said.Kuldeep also highlighted the importance of planning against batters.“Planning against batters is constant; you assess where they want to score and how they might approach you. With new batters, it becomes more challenging, but overall, preparation is what builds confidence,” he added.The 31-year-old is now eager to make his mark in IPL 2026.In Delhi Capitals’ opening match against Lucknow Super Giants, Kuldeep delivered a solid performance, picking up two wickets for 31 runs in four overs. He dismissed Mitchell Marsh and Mukul Choudhary in that game.He will now be up against Mumbai Indians in the upcoming clash.Kuldeep stressed the importance of sticking to one’s strengths, especially in the T20 format.“It’s very important for spinners to hold on to their strengths. Whenever batters put you under pressure, you tend to forget your strength. You look for a safer option to get out of that situation,” Kuldeep said.“If you are an attacking spinner, don’t let that go. Because that is your identity, and if you are doing that work for the team, taking wickets, there can be nothing better than that. Your mindset should be attacking,” he added.“Young spinners think that these are high-scoring matches and runs will be hit. Yes, you will be hit for runs because this is the T20 format. But you have to plan accordingly and be ready. It is not necessary that in four overs you will concede 40-45 runs. If there is a player who dominates, then it happens, or the wicket is very good for batting,” he said.
