Shane Warne is the reason I started playing: Kuldeep Yadav

Pune: When India coach Anil Kumble promised spinner Kuldeep Yadav a meeting with the latter’s cricketing idol Shane Warne, the young chinaman could hardly contain his excitement as the two walked towards the Australian great.

“Shane Warne is the reason why I started playing cricket and took up bowling. I used to bowl fast initially, but I switched to spin looking at videos of Shane Warne,” Kuldeep told bcci.tv.

“As a kid, I would get amazed looking at his bowling style and his ways of getting wickets. He has been an idol for me and to be honest, I still have his bowling videos on my phone.”

Meeting one’s childhood hero would be a dream for anyone and Kuldeep is no different. But he agreed that there was a hint of luck involved as Warne was part of the commentary team for the first Test against Australia.

“I didn’t know he would be here. I actually saw him on TV and asked Anil Kumble sir if I could meet him and talk to him during the tea break or after the end of day’s play. Our coach gladly agreed and I couldn’t believe that the moment of truth was just around the corner.”

Warne for his part made Kuldeep feel comfortable by welcoming him with a hug and telling him that he had been keeping an eye on the youngster’s performances.

“When I walked towards him, 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 of late. Those words are like gold for me.”

Kuldeep and Warne ended up talking a lot about the technicalities of spin bowling and how the former can improve his bowling action and his variations. Warne’s flipper was one of the most effective weapons in his arsenal and Kuldeep did not want to miss knowing about that.

“I want to bowl the flipper like him and he gave me his advice. He said it is a difficult delivery to bowl and requires a lot of practice. I will be practicing it in the nets along with Anil Kumble sir.”

With some valuable tips from Warne and coach Anil Kumble just around the corner, Kuldeep is confident he can keep improving and become the best he can be.

“It was a dream to be standing with (bowlers with) more than 1300 wickets by your side,” he gushed. “As a youngster, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Shane Warne and Anil Kumble talking to you about spin bowling is huge and I will cherish this for the rest of my life. I never thought that I would be acknowledged by two legends of the game and talk about spin bowling to them. I have no words to express this feeling right now.”