Great to be compared with Yasir Shah, says India’s Kuldeep Yadav

Young wrist spinner has been tipped for big things after taking international cricket by storm

NEW DELHI: India's rising star, spinner Kuldeep Yadav, believes bowling on concrete has made him battle-ready for any surface that a rival cricket power can lay out for him.

Kuldeep, who claimed a hat-trick in his country's triumphant ODI series against Australia, has become a household name at 22 and with just two Tests and 11 ODIs to his name.

Kuldeep grew up watching videos of spin legend Shane Warne and still calls the Aussie great his reference point in learning the rare art.

Warne recently compared Kuldeep to Pakistan's established Test spinner Yasir Shah, saying the Indian can become "the best leg-spinner" if he remains patient.

"It's great to be compared to a top spinner like Yasir Shah. It's heartening to see praise coming from my idol. It reassures my belief in my talent," said Kuldeep. "It makes me happy that Warne backs me and I feel there is some more talent in me."

Kuldeep played a big part in India's 4-1 win over Australia, but many believe the real test will come in tours of South Africa and England next year.

Ahead of India's series against New Zealand, starting Sunday, Kuldeep told AFP in an interview that his varied left-arm wrist spin will be a weapon on any track.

"It doesn't matter to me where I am playing because since my childhood I have bowled on cemented wickets. So if you can turn the ball on concrete then you can spin it anywhere," said Kuldeep. "If you have skill, good variation and are beating the batsmen in the air then you can find success anywhere.”

Kuldeep started as a fast-bowler but at the age of nine switched to wrist spin at his coach's insistence.

"I started my career in 2004 as a fast-bowler. After practising for a few months my coach advised me to switch to spin,” he said. "I did not like it at the start, but the first ball I bowled was wrist spin and I had no idea what it was. So, he must have thought I have a talent and he worked on it. Initially it was tough but when I got down to it, the hard work paid off."

Kuldeep has made his mark in the Indian Premier League with the Kolkata Knight Riders. But his rise as a top-class spinner has been instrumental in India becoming top of the world Test and one-day rankings.

The latest addition to India's rich spin tradition made an instant impact with four wickets in his debut Test against Australia in Dharamsala this year.