New Delhi: Who wants to sit on the bench and watch his teammates take the field? Who doesn’t want to see their name on the team roster? This can be frustrating for any player. but Kuldeep Yadav Handled this matter unusually calmly.Whether it’s holding a drink, delivering a message from the coach, taking out the bat, or smiling and applauding his teammates, Kuldeep is still fully integrated into the team despite not being in the starting XI.In the just-concluded T20 World Cup, the Indian team defeated New Zealand in the final to win the championship. The team often chooses a spin-based combination. Kuldeep was expected to play a bigger role, but that didn’t happen.
India have played eight matches in this World Cup, including the final, but Kuldeep has only featured in one match – the high-profile match against Pakistan. He bowled 3 balls, conceded 14 runs and took 1 wicket.After that, he never got a chance to play again.Ahead of IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals and mumbai indiansKuldeep talked about dealing with the challenges of being on the bench.“Preparation becomes crucial, especially when you don’t have a match. I make sure that there are no gaps in my preparation so that whenever the opportunity comes, I am ready,” Kuldeep told reporters ahead of the DC vs MI match in New Delhi.“Even if you’re not playing a game, it’s important to be with the team, attend practice, and have a game-ready mentality. Whether you’re playing a game or not, your approach should always be to be ready for the next game,” he added.“Confidence comes from preparation. If your training and routine are in place, you will naturally feel confident, even though there is always a little bit of nerves,” Kuldeep said.Kuldeep also emphasized the importance of having a plan for the batsmen.“The plan for batsmen remains the same; you assess where they want to score and how they are likely to approach you. It becomes more challenging for new batsmen, but in general, preparation builds confidence,” he added.The 31-year-old is now keen to make his mark in IPL 2026.Kuldeep performed brilliantly in Delhi Capitals’ first match against Lucknow Supergiants, scoring 31 runs in four overs and picking up two wickets. He dismissed Mitchell Marsh and Mukul Chaudhry in that match.He will now play against Mumbai Indians in the upcoming match.Kuldeep emphasized the importance of sticking to your strengths, especially in the T20 format.“It is very important for spinners to maintain their edge. Whenever a batsman puts pressure on you, you tend to forget your edge. You look for safer options to get out of the situation,” Kuldeep said.“If you are an attacking spinner, don’t give up on that. Because that is who you are and if you do the job for the team and take wickets, there is nothing better than that. Your mentality should be to attack,” he added.“Young spinners think these are high-scoring games and runs will be hit. Yes, you will get hit because this is a T20 format. But you have to plan and prepare accordingly. There is no need for you to concede 40-45 runs in four overs. If there is one player who dominates, then that will happen or the wicket is very good for batting,” he said.
