How Kuldeep Yadav prepped for England tour with Kevin Pietersen’s advice and bowling-action tweaks

Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav had the England tour on his mind while playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL this season.

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As luck would have it, around him was the team mentor Kevin Pietersen, the onetime England captain and a batsman with a deep understanding of spin bowling. Kuldeep didn’t let this opportunity go to waste. He sought his help and Pietersen obliged. The two would go through the entire England batting lineup, one batsman ata time, and assess their strength and weakness. Kuldeep would throw questions, Pietersen would answer them. At the end of the discussion the English batting great would also pass on a simple mantra to Kuldeep.

“Kevin Peterson was part of our team at DC. He gave me a lot of inputs for the England tour. He told me about fielding positions, pitches and the batsmen. We ran through their batting line up. He told me about the mindset needed in England,” Kuldeep told The Indian Express. “Pietersen said that generally spinners come to England with a defensive mindset. They think that in England, fast bowlers will get wickets and they will be in a supporting role. He told me to take the field with an attacking mindset. If | get a game and bowl 15 to 20 overs, | have to always think about how to get the batsmen out.”Kuldeep and Pietersen would go through the entire England batting lineup, one batsman at a time, and assess their strength and weakness. (Image credit: Sportzpics) Kuldeep and Pietersen would go through the entire England batting lineup, one batsman at a time, and assess their strength and weakness. (Image credit: Sportzpics)