Abu Dhabi: Unfazed by pressure of expectations after an underwhelming IPL show last season, Kolkata Knight Riders’ Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav says he is ready to unleash a few new tricks with the ball tailored for the T20 format when the Indian Premier League (IPL) starts on September 19.
Statistically, IPL 2019 was the spinner’s worst IPL season, when he picked just four wickets in nine games at a poor economy rate of 8.66. This led to him getting dropped by KKR for the business-end of the competition. The team finished fifth and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Kuldeep last played a T20 game for India in January against Sri Lanka in Indore. Kuldeep, 25, was part of India’s ODI side which played New Zealand in Hamilton on February 5, before the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
“I have worked on a few deliveries especially for the T20 format. It will be there for all to see during the IPL,” Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep said that his chances of success would be enhanced by helpful conditions in the UAE coupled with his seamless acclimatisation to the sultry conditions in India.
“These conditions suit me. It is very hot here. When I was at home, it was the same… hot and humid. So, I did not feel the heat that much here,” he said.
“From that point of view, I am happy. If you talk about the wicket, I am happy as we expect spin friendly wickets. So, I can get a lot of advantage here.”
