DC spinner Kuldeep Yadav has shared his feelings about his days at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), saying they still hurt him. Kuldeep had a tough time at the franchise, facing criticism for his bowling and eventually being dropped from the team. During 2019-2021, he struggled with poor form and injuries, which affected his confidence.

However, things turned around when he joined Delhi Capitals (DC) under the leadership of Rishabh Pant. Kuldeep made a strong comeback in the IPL, showing great performance since the 2022 season. He has taken 41 wickets in 33 matches, proving his worth as a spinner.

“In KKR, I needed guidance but now I don’t need it, as now I dictate terms. In 2019, Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni, his national team mentor) had retired that year and I needed guidance. The idea that I have now, has come with experience,” Kuldeep said.

“I still regret my time in KKR…”

Reflecting on his time at KKR, Kuldeep admitted to regrets about his lack of maturity back then. He was often criticized for bowling too slowly, which affected the effectiveness of his spin deliveries.

“I still regret my time in KKR (from 2016-2020) and feel whatever I am doing now, wish I could have done it back then,” Kuldeep added.

“It still hurts me that had I worked on those skills back then, I could have dominated even more.”

Despite the challenges, Kuldeep has become a key player for DC, often bowling in difficult situations like powerplay overs. He attributes his success to facing challenges head-on and learning from his mistakes.

Kuldeep shares his journey from regrate to success  

“But it didn’t happen back then as experience is something that you get only when you play a lot. When you encounter failure in life, then only you learn and now I am more confident about my skills and at the same time respectful of the fact that opposition can be good too,” the spinner said.

“Back in the day, I didn’t do (respect opposition) that. I believed in my skills but then at the same time you need to understand how the batter is playing and that maturity has come, knowing my strength and where to bowl so that it is difficult to hit, and I am working on that,” Kuldeep further added.

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While acknowledging his lack of experience at KKR, Kuldeep believes it has ultimately made him a better player. Over the years, he has developed maturity, which has positively impacted his performance on the field.

In the current IPL season of 2024, Kuldeep has been in excellent form, claiming 10 wickets in just 5 matches. He is now in contention for the prestigious purple cap, awarded to the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.