When a young Kul deep thought of suicide after selection snub
CONFESSION 13year old Kuldeep was upset after not being picked for UP U15
LUCK NOW: Despite the massive fan following cricketers in India enjoy, young Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav swears by simplicity and loves being called ‘Kanpuria launda’ (Kanpur lad).
True to his image, Kuldeepw as happy to reach out when he found himself amid his fans, including young girls, posing for selfies with him and signing autographs at the Hindustan Shikh ar Sam agam here on Saturday.
The adulation was a remarkable change from the days when a 13-year-old Kuldeep wanted to commit suicide when he was not selected in the Uttar Pradesh’s under-15 team. He had also decided to quit the game. But the wheel of fortune turned in a few years, best owing success on him.
EARLY DEJECTION
Making this confession, Kul deep, 22, said he had made up his mind not to pursue the game again, ever. “I had worked hard for my selection, but when I was not picked, I mentioned suicide in frustration. It happens to everyone in the heat of the moment ,” he said on Saturday.
“I was a meritorious student in school and wanted to play cricket just for fun. I never thought of making it my vocation. In fact, my father wanted me to play cricket and took me to the coach,” recalled Kuldeep, who has enjoyed an impressed first year as an India player.
“I always wanted to become a se am bowler, but my coach forced me to become a spinner. When I bowled a few balls (Chinaman), I was asked to make it a habit. Otherwise, I didn’t know I was bowling something different ,” he said.
After idolising Pakistan pace great Wasim Akram initially, he made Australian spin legend Shane Warne his role model.
“I keep watching videos of War ne. His grip of the ball, length of deliveries and use of the cr ease are unbeatable. I try to learn from the footage,” said Kuldeep, who has taken nine wickets in two Tests after making a winning debut against Australia at Dharamsala in March.
“It was a pressure game. It was the series decider. I was bowling alongside Ravi ch and ran Ash win and R av indra Ja deja. I felt at ease only after bagging four crucial wickets ,” said the Kanpur player.
Kuldeep, the third Indian bowl er to take a hat trick in OD Is, termed his Test debut as the biggest achievement. He said the final rain-hit T20 (8-overs-a-side) last week against New Zealand was yet another intense game. “I felt the pressure as bowling in such conditions was quite difficult. But I focused on the length of my deliveries.”
Expressing gratitude for the support he has received from skip per Vi rat Kohl ia nd stumper MS D ho ni, Kul deep said he never bothered about the opposition’s strengths or weakness but kept focus on his abilities.
“If I am sure about my skills, I will be successful. So, I keep concentrating and working hard on my abilities,” he said.
Kuldeep, who is hooked to PlayStation 4, has been training hard a this favourite Na ga rP alika ground in Kanpur .“PS 4 is my favourite (video) game and it helps me understand and solve the problems of life. I don’t stop thinking about the game even when I am home and enjoying my mother’s home-cooked food.”
It was the series decider. I was bowling alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. I felt at ease only after bagging four crucial wickets.
Kuldeep on Test debut against Australia in Dharamsala