'You will play tomorrow, you have to take 5 wickets' - Anil Kumble to Kuldeep Yadav ahead of his debut Test

When Kuldeep Yadav first appeared on the big stage, everyone instantly knew he had the potential to do something great. The young spinner from Kanpur has been a revelation in the past few years. His performances have been really good and has become a regular member of the Indian team. In a recent interview, the wrist-spinner talked about his international debut for India.

Recalling his Test debut against Australia in Dharamsala in 2017, Kuldeep revealed that the then coach Anil Kumble had come to him a day before the match and said that he will be playing in the side. He also revealed that Kumble told him that he has to take 5 wickets in the game.

I was really nervous, Kuldeep reveals his situation ahead of debut game

“I get emotional when I remember my Test debut in Dharamsala. The most important thing for me at the time was how to perform. I remember a day before the match, Anil sir came to me and said ‘you will play tomorrow, you have to take 5 wickets’,” he said during an episode of “Spicy Pitch”, a show by Cricbuzz.

Kuldeep Yadav then assured Kumble that he will take five wickets in the match. The chinaman also recalled that Laxman Sivaramakrishnan gave him some advice while handing him the debut cap, but he doesn’t remember it. He said that he was blank out of nervousness and couldn’t remember whatever the former cricketer said.

“So, I paused for a second, and then I was like, ‘yes sir, I will pick up 5 wickets’. (Laxman) Sivaramakrishnan sir gave me my Test cap. He gave me some advice, I don’t remember what, as I was completely blank at the time,” the 25-year-old further said.

He ended up picking four crucial wickets in the first innings against Australia. The debutant took the wickets of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb and Pat Cummins and helped India restrict the visitors to a low score. Kuldeep Yadav said that he felt a lot of pressure going into the match. However, once he started bowling, he felt a bit relaxed.

“I was feeling a lot of pressure, I was really nervous. I felt that it was a big stage — how will I perform here. But then I bowled a couple of overs before lunch, and I felt relaxed. I decided to play it like it is a Ranji Trophy match. Test cricket has always been very close to my heart,” he added.