Picture Credit: IPL/BCCI
KKR spinner Kuldeep Yadav has opened up about the lack of opportunities he has got while playing for the franchise in last couple of years. The 26-year-old played only 5 games for Kolkata Knight Riders last season and did not make a single appearance for the franchise in first half of IPL 2021 in India. Reflecting on his continuous exclusion and the disappointing campaign for Eoin Morgan's side so far, Yadav gave his honest opinion on the same.
Kuldeep reveals reason behind KKR's disappointing start in IPL 2021
The left-arm spinner opined that KKR did not have the mindset of winning games this season. In a conversation with Sportskeeda, Kuldeep said, "When you watch international cricket, you see that there's that hunger within Virat Kohli to do well and take the team forward and win. When Gauti bhai played for KKR, even he had the same mindset that the team should win. Then I think KKR were lacking in that regard and weren't thinking in that way, or maybe they weren't taking this tournament seriously or thinking about their approach if they lost games." The 26-year-old added that these things matter a lot which the franchise missed during the tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders didn't back me the way I expected: Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav also shared his feelings on not getting too many opportunities for the franchise in the last two years. The wrist-spinner revealed that it does feel unfair when are a part of the Indian side and still don't get to play franchise cricket. "You do feel bad but there is nothing you can do, you can only work hard and ask for reasons. When you do ask for reasons you get some explanation but maybe the kind of backing that I was expecting from KKR I didn't get, " added Kuldeep. The spinner also admitted that he did not get the kind of trust that Gautam Gambhir showed in him when he was the captain.
Yadav also went on to add that he is looking forward to getting opportunities in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and the second half of IPL 2021 so that he can have an impact in the 2021 T20 World Cup. "There is another World Cup next year Down Under, so it's not that this is my last chance. I might be effective in Australia if I get a chance," concluded Kuldeep.