'Boss, this puppy fat you have na…': Ex-India Coach reveals Ravi Shastri-Kuldeep Yadav's unheard conversation

Kuldeep Yadav, who is yet to turn 30, has made a mark for himself in the cricketing arena by proving his spin prowess. However, his journey to becoming India's spin wizard after Ravichandran Ashwin was fraught with challenges. Despite achieving the remarkable feat of being the only Indian bowler to secure multiple hat-tricks, Kuldeep faced significant setbacks. He was sidelined from playing Test cricket for India for over two years, even after a notable five-wicket haul against Australia in Sydney. His challenges compounded when he injured his knee during the IPL 2021, a season in which he didn't play a single match for the Kolkata Knight Riders, leading to a difficult period in his career.

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Bharat Arun recounts Ravi Shastri-Kuldeep Yadav's intense conversation

Bharat Arun, the former bowling coach for India, recounted a conversation between Kuldeep and ex-head coach Ravi Shastri during this trying time, which effectively captured the ups and downs of Kuldeep's cricketing journey.

"Boss, this puppy fat you have na has to be melted away. I can't think of a single reason with improved fitness that you won't become a world-class Test bowler," Arun walked down the memory lane to recall Shastri's words in a chat with The Indian Express.

 

Following his knee surgery and a hairline fracture in his wrist in 2022, Kuldeep, then carrying a few extra pounds, was sidelined for several months. However, his comeback marked a significant turning point. Kuldeep has experienced a resurgence, surpassing Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja to become India's secondary go-to spinner in Test matches and the leading spinner in ODIs and T20Is. Reflecting on this challenging phase of the spinner's career, Bharat Arun remarked that this difficult time acted as a catalyst for change, leading to the emergence of a revitalized Kuldeep 2.0, now performing at the peak of his powers.

 

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None of us are idiots: Bharat Arun

 

"Any bowler can bowl quicker – that was never the point. It had to be done without sacrificing turn, loop and dip. And it was always about the energy through the crease. The ultimate result is a visible increase in pace. Not the other way around. Not going there and firing the ball. None of us are idiots! It was about being patient and working hard," Arun said.

 

The former bowling coach, Bharat Arun, also pointed out a notable enhancement in Kuldeep Yadav's fitness level. Previously, Kuldeep was not known for his agility on the field, often finding it challenging to cover the boundary areas effectively. However, the improved Kuldeep is now more dynamic, engaging in dives and stopping boundaries with newfound enthusiasm. This improvement in fitness has not only augmented his fielding capabilities but has also refined his quick-arm bowling action, providing him with a slight advantage in timing. When combined with Kuldeep's innate skill for variation and deception, this makes him a formidable opponent to face.

 

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"How do you do that? Fitness certainly is a factor to bowl in Tests with that kind of energy. We always knew Kuldeep can deliver: Who can forget the ball he bowled in the 2019 World Cup to Babar Azam! How to sustain that through longer spells? When your release point's hand position is precise, you have a quicker arm speed. All the spinner's nuances can come through the wrist position," Arun added.

 

"Now look at him, quicker arm-speed, that bustle through the crease, near-perfect hand position at release, and it's all going in the direction it ought to go – towards the batsman at the other end. With better fitness, his basics (of bowling action) taken care of, he is now actively channelling all his energy at the other end, trying to beat the man there," he concluded

 

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