No question of replacing Ashwin: Kuldeep Yadav

Guwahati: He may have become India’s latest spin sensation but chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav says he is not thinking about being seen as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s replacement.

India’s ploy of playing two wrist spinners has worked well in the limited overs series against Australia, as Yadav along with Yuzvendra Chahal have been instrumental in the team’s 4-1 ODI series win, and a 1-0 advantage in the ongoing three-match T20I series.

“I don’t think of that far. Both Ash and Jaddu bhai have been consistent performers for India in all the three formats. There’s no question of thinking about replacing them,” Yadav told reporters on the eve of the second T20I here.

“We are very young, and there’s a lot of cricket left in us. It has never cross my mind,” the 22-year-old added.

The Aussies has struggled to pick Yadav time and again but the chinaman spinner said he was not a mystery bowler. “I’m not a mystery bowler who will bowl from different hands. Obviously after two-three years they will pick you and it becomes easy for them. For me, if your basics like alignment and accuracy are right, it becomes easy for you.

 “For me it does not matter if someone tries to pick you from video analysis. If you bowl in right areas, have good variations, landing on the spot and beating the batsmen in air, no matter how many times you see the video it won’t matter,” Yadav, who credited Aussie duo of Brad Hogg and Shane Warne for his transformation, said.

Underlining the need to do the basics right, he said: “In T20s you can get wickets anytime as batsmen always try to hit you out of the park. Your basics need to be right without thinking much about the batsmen. If you focus on your strengths, you become more successful.”

Yadav said he has learnt a lot by playing with Aussie chinaman specialist Hogg at Kolkata Knight Riders, while he is also in regular touch with his idol Warne.

“Both play a very important role in my career. I’ve followed Shane Warne since childhood. He’s my idol. My life will be a success if I could achieve 50 per cent of what he has achieved. I stay in touch with him.

“I’ve been with Hogg in KKR for two seasons, I’ve learnt a lot from him as well,” added Kuldeep.