#INDvAUS 4th Test: With Shane Warne in mind, Kuldeep Yadav foxed David Warner – Kuldeep reveals how learning flipper from former Australian spin legend in Pune helped him dismiss current Australian opener here
Kuldeep Yadav receives the Test cap from Laxman Sivaramakrishnan before play; (below) has a chat with Virat Kohli on field (BCCI)
It was during the course of the first Test between India and Australia in Pune that newcomer Kuldeep Yadav got a chance to meet his idol Shane Warne.
Having learnt all the tricks by merely watching the Aussie go about his business on television, it was a dream come true for this 22-year-old wrist-spinner from Kanpur to meet the legendary leggie, even though the bowling arms of the two are different.
Warne may just have discussed a trick or two with his 'fan', but that was enough to cheer up a young lad who had toiled hard to become a wrist spinner after starting out as a fast bowler.
But as he got a call-up to the India squad for the Australia series in place of Amit Mishra, Kuldeep told his coach Kapil Pandey back home over phone that "don't worry, I'm not just going to play but also do well in this series".
"When I started, my natural action was chinaman and I had no clue that this is called chinaman or there existed an art called chinaman. It was a new thing but then I enhanced my skills further," Kuldeep said about his journey of becoming a chinaman here on Saturday after ensuring India restricted Australia to 300 with his four-wicket haul.
But it was only when the topic of what he learnt from Warne in Pune was brought up that his face lit up.
"Did you see the first wicket (of David Warner)?" he shot back.
"That wasn't a chinaman. It was a flipper which I learnt from Shane Warne. So, learning from Warne and then getting out his countryman is a great thing. I did exactly what he told me to do. He has promised that he will have another session with me in the near future," Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep first made his mark for India in the Under-19 series Down Under around four years back. In fact, Aussie great Greg Chappell even believed that should be fast-tracked into the senior squad.
However, the left-armer came into the limelight with a hat-trick against Scotland in the 2014 U-19 World Cup in Dubai. He finished that tournament as the joint highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps against his name.
He was initially spotted by IPL franchisee Mumbai Indians in 2012 and impressed even master blaster Sachin Tendulkar with his variations in the nets.
This led him to Kolkata Knight Riders, where he made an impressive T20 debut in the 2014 Champions League T20. But his way into Team India was cleared only after he picked up 17 wickets in three matches during the Duleep Trophy last season.
And once he got his big opportunity, against the mighty Australians on Saturday, he pounced on it with both hands.
"I was told yesterday (Friday) evening that I am in the 12 but I came to know about my selection only this (Saturday) morning," an ecstatic Kuldeep said.
Not just Warne, Kuldeep also got tips from the injured captain Virat Kohli on how to bowl to certain individuals, something that boosted his confidence throughout the day.
"He (Kohli) reminded me of what we planned for specific batsmen. There can be nothing better than a captain, not playing, still motivating you from outside."
QUOTE
He (Kohli) reminded me of what we planned for specific batsmen. There can be nothing better than a captain, not playing, still motivating you from outside
–Kuldeep Yadav, India spinner
DID YOU KNOW?
Kuldeep Yadav burst into the limelight after taking a hat-trick against Scotland in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup in Dubai
The chinaman had once bamboozled Sachin Tendulkar in the nets during a training session with the Mumbai Indians
