Delhi Capitals‘ South African big hitter Tristan Stubbs has revealed why his DC teammate Kuldeep Yadav doesn’t bowl to him during net sessions.
Kuldeep Yadav and Tristan Stubbs both have been integral parts of the Delhi Capitals team in IPL 2024. Both of them have put up excellent performances in every game that DC have won so far. At the business end of the season, the Delhi management will be hoping for Stubbs and Kuldeep to carry on their form to win both of their remaining two games.
Why Kuldeep Yadav doesn’t show his variation to Tristan Stubbs?
Tristan Stubbs, who is a part of the South African squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, recently appeared on the Grade Cricketer podcast. Therein, the duo of hosts asked a lot of interesting questions to the right-hand batter with one of them being whether Stubbs is able to play Kuldeep Yadav’s deadly wrong ‘un in the nets or not.
“Stubbsy I want to ask you about one of your teammates Kuldeep and like obviously the Wrong ‘un is just unbelievable. Are you picking the Wrong ‘un in the nets?” the host asked.
Tristan Stubbs’ response to this question actually got the hosts quite shocked. The 23-year-old said that Kuldeep Yadav is always reluctant to bowl to him and despite the right-hander’s request, Kuldeep just doesn’t bowl it. When the hosts asked why the Chinaman was so reluctant, Stubbs replied that the wrist spinner was trying to keep his variation a secret.
“Nah he won’t bowl to me. I’ve tried a few times to go face him (but) he won’t bowl.” – Stubbs said via the Grade Cricketer. “Okay let’s talk about that. Why?” – the host followed up. “Yeah I think he’s trying to keep it a mystery so I can’t tell you but I’ve tried to face him, he’s not having it,” Stubbs added.
The host then pursued Tristan Stubbs to give some more details to his answer so he asked if that’s because India might possibly face South Africa at the WC knockouts. “Is this a World Cup situation? (Is it because of) South Africa Vs India situation?” the host further asked.
Tristan Stubbs, with a wicket smile on his face, agreed to the hosts’ claim by saying, “I think it’s quietly not been said but I think so yeah.” Then the other host jumped in and asked, “Is he actually smart because part of the reason you want to face him is to get ready for the World Cup?” “Yeah I think so. We’re both on the same page,” Stubbs replied.
If Kuldeep Yadav is really doing so, then he is doing the right thing as Indian players wouldn’t want their opponents to know when and how they execute their variations. IPL is definitely a great breeding ground of preparation for the foreign players against the top Indian cricketers.
Although India and South Africa have been drawn into different groups there could be a possibility that the nations might face each other in the knockouts. In that case, Tristan Stubbs might as well share Kuldeep Yadav’s hidden variations with his South African teammates.
Watch the video
Delhi Capitals x TGC. Full video with Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Kumar Kushagra now live on YouTube@ACKOIndia @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/A35cgwSzy0
— The Grade Cricketer (@gradecricketer) May 11, 2024