Former Indian cricket team batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Kuldeep Yadav should partner Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Following Kuldeep's superb bowling in Delhi Capitals' thrilling win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 on Wednesday, Manjrekar said that Kuldeep looks like a "Jasprit Bumrah or Yuzvendra Chahal at his peak" and the confidence can be a major asset for India in the upcoming tournament. He further added that Kuldeep looks comfortable while handling responsibilities and he can form a formidable partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.
"Yes. And this is perhaps Kuldeep Yadav at his peak with regards to his skills, his confidence. You can see now he's out there like a Bumrah or Chahal at his peak. He is commanding that kind of respect. He looks comfortable with the responsibility and champions, you know, those breaks and those moments that you are seeking at the right time," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
"Last over today, DC wanted a wicket. They got the wicket of Tewatia there and just seized the game. So this is where Kuldeep has now become a champion bowler and he is somebody I mean that we should pencil down. Ravindra Jadeja will come in as a left-arm spinner batter and Kuldeep the second spinner," he added.
Kuldeep has impressed in IPL 2024 with 12 wickets from 6 matches.
"Happy to get the win. These two points are very important. Amazing game. When we went into the last over, knew it was going to be very tight. We had a plan, coach and captain wanted one over when Tewatia came into bat. Luckily it worked out. You have to read the batsmen and see what they are trying to do. We batted well, 225 is a good total. I didn't want to try too much when I came into bowl."
"Just focused on my lines and lengths and saw what the batters were trying to do. (On Tewatia's wicket) I bowled a few balls into the wicket to him, thought he might slog-sweep, it was a good plan from the keeper and we got the wicket," Kuldeep said after the match.