Kuldeep credits ShaneWarne

Learning from Warne and then using those tricks to get the batsmen out was great. The wicket of Warner was not a chinaman. It was a flipper which I learnt from Warne. I did exactly what he told me to do.

KULDEEP YADAV, on his learning from Shane Warne

Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled a magnificent spell on the first day of his Test career to help India restrict Australia, credited an interaction with spin legend Shane Warne for his success.

“Learning from Warne and then using those tricks to get the Australian batsmen out was a great thing. The wicket of (David) Warner was not a chinaman. It was a flipper which I learnt from Warne. I did exactly what he told me to do. I have followed him since childhood,” Kuldeep said at the end of first day’s play.

During the first Test at Pune, Kuldeep had asked Anil Kumble to introduce him to his idol, Warne. The India coach obliged.

Kuldeep told bcci.tv after the meeting that he had picked the legend’s brains. “When I walked towards him (Warne), I couldn’t believe that I was standing in front of him. He greeted me with a warm smile and it felt very heartening to see a legend embrace you in that manner. It was a great experience. I asked a lot of things about my bowling and the different ways to use my variations effectively. He felt very confident about my bowling and said he had been following my performances. Those words are like gold for me,” he had said in the interview.

On Saturday, Kuldeep recalled that experience. “I couldn’t believe I was speaking to my idol and sharing my thoughts on bowling.”

Kuldeep made an impact in just his fourth over by removing David Warner to end his big partership with captain Steven Smith. After that, the chinaman bowler from Uttar Pradesh went from strength to strength, ending with a four-wicket haul.

The youngster then proceeded to dismiss Peter Handscomb with a legbreak for 8 before removing Glenn Maxwell with a googly, also for 8. He finished off by having Pat Cummins caught and bowled for 21.

“The first wicket was very special. The next two wickets (Handscomb and Maxwell) were satisfying as I executed the dismissals in ways I had visualised it,” Kuldeep said. Matthew Wade, who smashed his fourth fifty, conceded that initially the Australians were struggling to pick Kuldeep’s variations.

HALTING SMITH

Throughout his spell, Kuldeep displayed tremendous control and guile. In addition to wickets, he ensured that Australia captain Steve Smith had to work hard for runs.

“I bowled to Smith for the first time and I didn’t have any difficulty as he wasn’t playing any strokes. Maybe he didn’t want to take any chance against me and looked only for singles. I was never nervous against Smith. I have been taught that a spinner will take wickets even if he gets hit,” he said.