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Check out how Ravi Shastri’s words sparked a revival for Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav’s journey in international cricket is a modern-day sports fable. Once an indispensable member of the Indian spin attack, the wrist-spinner endured a crushing slump in form around 2019. Poor performances across the ODI and T20I formats saw him relegated to the sidelines and even benched by his IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders. Yet, in a stunning display of resilience, Kuldeep has staged a remarkable comeback. Over the past year, he’s re-established himself as one of the world’s premier bowlers, and his pathway to redemption is a fascinating tale.

During his time away from the spotlight, former Indian coach Ravi Shastri played an important role in Kuldeep’s revival. As Bharat Arun, India’s ex-bowling coach recently revealed, Shastri’s words and advice inspired the spinner. Rather than dwelling on failures, Kuldeep was encouraged to focus on self-improvement, with particular attention paid to fitness and bowling speed. This shift in focus proved vital as he dedicated himself to reaching his peak physical condition.

“Ravi Shastri told Kuldeep that Boss, this puppy fat you have 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 said while speaking to The Indian Express.

“He had to do all the hard rehab work…”

Arun also said that the leg injury that the wrist-spinner went through in 2021, turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he got time to work on his skills and fitness rather, away from all the spotlight. “It seems rather silly to say this but that injury, I think, gave him no option but to get fitter. He had to do all the hard rehab work, shed himself of that puppy fat, to continue his dream of playing cricket. And he has worked a lot on his bowling – that energy through the crease is a standout feature now. It allows him to increase pace without sacrificing turn, loop, drift,” he said.

As revealed and observed, Kuldeep’s transformation was not merely psychological. He meticulously analyzed his bowling, making subtle tweaks to his action and developing variations to add to his already impressive arsenal. The key change, however, was an increased focus on bowling faster. Traditionally, Kuldeep’s primary weapon was his deceptive variations in flight and turn. By adding more pace, he made his deliveries even tougher for batsmen to decipher. The batsman now had less time to react, increasing the chances of misjudging the ball and resulting in more wickets.

This transformation was first visible in domestic cricket and the IPL. Kuldeep’s newfound confidence, coupled with sharpened control and the added dimension of pace, propelled him back to the top of the wicket-taking charts. His performances simply could not be ignored by the national selectors. He earned a recall to the Indian team, and since then, there’s been no looking back.

Kuldeep’s comeback has been a revelation. He is no longer merely taking wickets; he’s spearheading India’s spin attack across formats. His relentless accuracy, coupled with uncanny variations and the threat of higher speeds, has bamboozled even the most seasoned batters across the globe. There’s a poetic quality to Kuldeep Yadav’s comeback. He’s not just performing; he’s performing better than ever before. His determination and work ethic are an example to aspiring athletes across the world. In the world of cricket, where the form is fleeting, the tale of Kuldeep Yadav’s transformation serves as a reminder that grit and an unyielding spirit can triumph over even the most demoralizing of setbacks.