Mumbai: Out of favour Indian middle order batsman Suresh Raina credited former head coach of the Indian team Anil Kumble for Kuldeep Yadav’s success in international cricket.
“Kuldeep (Yadav) is doing very well and the credit goes to Anil Bhai (Anil Kumble). He worked really hard with him,” said Raina, at an event in Mumbai.
“I was talking to him (Kuldeep) in the IPL and he always use to message Anil Bhai. He is the product of Anil Kumble,” he added.
Raina further predicted a brighter future for the chinaman bowler, who has played with the likes of Brad Hogg in the IPL.
Said Raina, “He (Kuldeep) has done well with (former Australian chinaman) Brad Hogg. He is the guy who will change everything in bowling department.”
The Kanpur lad announced his entry into international cricket earlier this year with a bang as he bagged four wickets against Australia in his debut innings in Dharamsala. Interestingly, it was under Kumble that Kuldeep made his debut for the national team.
Recently, the 22-year-old also became the third Indian bowler in ODI’s to register a hat-trick when he achieved the feat against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on September 21.
Accompanied by Olympian Kavita Raut, Raina launched the logo of Skechers Performance Goa River Marathon scheduled to be held on December 10.
The southpaw has been out of the national side for quite a long while now but the UP cricketer said that he is putting in the hard yards to make comeback into the Indian team.
He said, “I am working hard and there is nothing tough in life, if you enjoy your process and enjoy your cricket and I have always done that.”
“When I got injured that was a difficult time of my life. So it (the comeback) is nothing and I am enjoying it and things will come in my time,” added the 30-year-old.
Recently, reports were doing the rounds that Raina had failed the Yo-Yo test. When asked about this, he said, “You (the reporters) speak to BCCI.”
Raina led UP in the Ranji Trophy opener against Railways were faced a shocking defeat after failing to chase down 94 runs in the fourth innings eventually being bowled out for 72.
He said, “The boys are still learning. The wicket was little different. We have still five more games to go and after that match we had a chat.”
“In the Duleep Trophy you have seen wicket and its not in my hand to win the toss. So we had to bat on the fourth day and it wasn’t easy,” he further added.