Ahead of SA tour, Kuldeep set to play for UP in Mushtaq Trophy
Chinaman bowler wants to practice hard before challenging Proteas in their own den
LUCKNOW: Before catching the flight for South Africa later this month to play the six-match ODI series against the Proteas, Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav chose to practice hard, playing domestic matches for Uttar Pradesh.
Kanpur’s Kuldeep would be a part of the Suresh Raina-led former champions Uttar Pradesh, which begin their central zone league campaign against Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Trophy, starting January 9 at Raipur.
“We have the confirmation of Kuldeep playing for the side at least in zonal matches,” a selector told the HT on Friday on the sidelines of the final day of the four-day camp here. “Only he (Kuldeep) will decide on playing the Super League matches starting January 21, if UP make it to the stage,” he added.
When Raina and Co laid their hands on maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2015-16 defeating Baroda by 38 runs at Mumbai, Kuldeep had played a major role as he took nine wickets in eight matches. His senior colleague Piyush Chawla claimed 15 wickets in nine matches. Lanky Prashant Gupta, keeper-batsman Eklavya Dwivedi and skipper Raina had the major contributions with the willow. “Kuldeep has a mature bowler now. He knows the art of taking wickets on crucial moments, especially at the international level and his presence in the team would be a benefit to the side,” said another selector. Kuldeep, who has so far taken 61 wickets in 47 Twenty20 matches (excluding international matches), has taken nine wickets, including six in three T20 matches against Sri Lanka, at the international level in six matches during the last one year.
Young batsman Sarfaraz Khan, who has been retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the next IPL, is also expected to be in the side as he is fully recovered from the injury.
RAINA BLAZING
A day after being retained by his former franchise Chennai Super Kings for Rs 11 crore for the new IPL season this year, left-hander Suresh Raina looked confident in his batting, especially hitting the ball over the boundary.
On the final day of the five-day camp of the UP team at the Ekana International cricket stadium on Friday, Raina showed his hunger for runs, hitting 33 in just 13 balls with the help of five fours and a six. Eklavya Dwivedi and Prashant Gupta also excelled with the willow in the six-over practice game, played under the watchful guidance of newly-appointed coach Sujith Somasundar. Raina was ruthless against leggie Zeeshan Ansari, hitting two consecutive boundaries, and a zooming six, before being caught at the mid-wicket region off the bowler.
“That’s what we need him to do in the T20 game as he is a batsman who dominates the game,” said another selector.
On Thursday too, Raina scored 28 of 20 balls, which comprised a six and four boundaries.
NEW HOPES
For many, including a few in the selection panel, hopes are there for a ‘magical’ turnaround in the team’s fortunes in the domestic T20 and 50-over matches over the next few weeks under the tutelage of Sujith Somasundar, who has been appointed coach only last week and could work with the boys only for five days.
“He (Sujith) must be having some magic wand in his bag. After all, he has been given the charge of the team in the mid of the season after the sacking of Mritunjay Tripathi and bowling coach AW Zaidi, so it is his duty to deliver now,” said a selector.