Colombo: Leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav hailed skipper Virat Kohli as an inspirational leader for providing bowlers tremendous support and freedom.
“Virat is a leader, who gives you everything you want on the field. When I am bowling, he comes to me and asks what field I want. That’s what bowlers want to hear and he gives bowlers freedom,” Yadav said.
“He has given me tremendous support through the Test series, the ODIs and now too. So I am very happy with this kind of team unity as well as the leader.”
The 22-year-old from Kanpur said Kohli’s dedication on field is an inspiration for all the players. “He leads from the front with both the bat and even in fielding also. Wherever he is fielding, he gives it his all. So it is a motivation in itself seeing him on the field,” he said.
“Looking at him, if we can improve our fielding even by one percent, that will be good. He talks to younger players about what he wants from them and what we need from the team,” he added.
Yadav got few chances on this tour, playing in the third Test at Pallekele as substitute for the suspended Ravindra Jadeja. Then he was rested for the first three ODIs as the team management followed a policy of rotation. He featured in the last two matches before the lone T20 game.
press trust of india