Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav had the media in splits on Saturday after his impressive performance here
A vendor holds up a Virat shirt outside the HPCA Stadium on Saturday. Pic/Ashwin Ferro
Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav had the media in splits on Saturday after his impressive performance here. He first credited his idol Shane Warne, albeit with a funny twist, for sharing tips with him during their meeting back in Pune ahead of the first Test. "How do you think I got my first wicket (David Warner)? It was the flipper, which I learnt from Warne. So, it's great to learn from one Australian and use it to dismiss another Australian," he said at the post-day press conference and attracted some laughter.
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He was then asked why is it so tough to bowl to Australia captain Steven Smith, who knocked up his 20th Test ton with a fluent 173-ball 111, Yadav shot back: "Tough? It was the first time in my life that I was bowling to Smith and I didn't find it tough." Again, the room was in splits.
And finally, when asked about his unique art, the chinaman, the affable 22-year-old remarked: "When I began bowling, this (chinaman) came naturally to me, so I did it. But to be honest, I didn't like it one bit. Bilkul mazaa nahi aaya (I didn't enjoy it at all). But I worked hard despite not getting picked season after season and here I am today in front of you." There were no shortage of smiles in the room.
More or less, a great sale
India captain Virat Kohli was inevitably the most popular figure among fans on Saturday morning, though it was almost evident the previous evening itself that he wouldn't play this fourth and final Test against Australia. Most fans entering the stadium wearing India jerseys had 'Virat 18' on their backs. One of the vendors selling the shirts outside the stadium summed up his morning business: "I had brought 50 shirts — 30 with Virat written on the back and 20 blanks. I've got just two Virat shirts left. Wish I had got more."
Kuldeep Yadav in action against Australia during the first day of last test match. Pic/PTI
Tricked those Aussies!
India is known to be the land of magic and on Saturday, the Indian team management pulled off the unthinkable when they named debutant chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav in place of injured skipper Virat Kohli. However, according to sources, it was already decided the previous evening that Kohli wouldn't play, but head coach Anil Kumble and his think tank decided against making any announcement then, as they did not want the Australians to prepare for what was going to hit them. Kuldeep Yadav almost let the cat out of the bag at Saturday's press conference. "I knew yesterday evening that I was in the list of 12 players for this match, but this morning I was told I'm in the playing XI," he said. Obviously, no one could have imagined that Yadav would take four wickets and shine on debut, but keeping a secret this well from the world's prying eyes is nothing short of a magic trick.
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