Kuldeep Yadav shone for his new franchise Delhi Capitals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opening match against 5-time champions Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

Kuldeep Yadav had been frustrated warming the benches over the last 2 seasons for Kolkata Knight Riders as he found it difficult to break into the side that had Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. He did not play a single match in 2021 and only 14 over the 2020 and 2019 seasons for KKR.

IPL 2022: Full Coverage

However, after getting bought by Delhi for Rs 2 crore at the mega auction, Kuldeep got an opportunity as early as the first game of their season. And the left-arm wrist-spinner made full use of it.

Kuldeep picked up 3 wickets, including that of Rohit Sharma (41) and Kieron Pollard (3), as he repaid the faith shown in him by the Delhi franchise. Kuldeep got his lengths spot on and bowled quicker than usual, giving away just 18 runs in his 4-over spell.

On a day when Axar Patel gave away 40 runs and Shardul Thakur leaked aplenty (47 in 4 overs), Kuldeep kept Delhi in the hunt, choking the power-packed Mumbai batting unit.

‘KULDEEP IS VERY HUNGRY’

Heaping rich praise on Kuldeep, newly-appointed Delhi assistant coach Shane Watson said the India spinner looked determined and worked hard at their preparatory camp.

“He (Kuldeep) has got great skills, as we have always seen. But he is very hungry, we can see by the way he has bowled today. He is hungry to really prove a point. He has got skills, he is now looking to execute it against these world-class Mumbai batters in a high-pressure situation,” Watson told Star Sports.

“He is a highly-skilled bowler in all conditions. It doesn’t have to turn for him. He has got his variations, especially his wrong’un. He has got his length spot on. His pace, he is bowling a little bit quicker. So I am excited about what we have seen in the lead up to the first game but also about what he is producing in the middle for us,” he added.

WORKING REALLY HARD: KULDEEP

Stressing that he hasn’t changed much in his bowling, Kuldeep said he has been discussing lengths with head coach Ricky Ponting and with Rohit Sharma when he returned to the Indian side for the limited-overs series against West Indies earlier this year.

“I am very happy. My lengths were good. I have been working really hard and have been talking to Ricky Ponting. Before this also I have been talking to Rohit bhai. I haven’t changed much in my bowling. The variation in pace was because I was in good rhythm,” Kuldeep said.

Despite Kuldeep’s efforts, Delhi Capitals conceded 177 in 2 overs as Ishan Kishan hit his 3rd successive fifty as MI opener. Ishan smashed 11 boundaries and 2 sixes for his 49-ball 81 not out.