Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play his 300th one-day international match on Thursday.
The fourth game between India and Sri Lanka which will also be the 300th ODI for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Before the match, left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav heaped praise on the wicketkeeper-batsman, saying that he feels extremely proud playing alongside such a legend.
"There is no word to describe MS Dhoni's influence on a young bowler like me," said Yadav. "If you interact with him, like I have been doing for last six months, there is obviously so much to learn from him. I keep talking to him about my bowling. When I am playing for the team, then also I keep talking to him."
"I have been with Dhoni for the past six months. Nobody can judge you and your performance better than him. He keeps interacting with us while being behind the stumps. He can judge you the best from behind the wickets. I feel lucky that I will be a part of his 300th ODI. You get to learn a lot if you are playing with a legend like him," Kuldeep said on Tuesday.
India captain Virat Kohli has suggested that the team might try out a few new things in the remaining two games. And it is almost certain that Kuldeep would be a part of the Playing XI when the two teams lock horns at the R Premdasa Stadium on Thursday.
Spinners Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal have so far played in the first three ties after Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were given rest.
Speaking about the competition with them, the left-arm wrist spinner said, "It is good for Team India to have so many options. I always take this positively. Whenever I get a chance I will try to do my best. But from team's perspective, it is good."
The 22-year-old, when quizzed about his bowling plan, revealed that it depends on the situation and not only on the batsman.
"It depends on the situations. My style is not to attack the batsman. If I go to attack a batsman then I might end up going for more runs. I always try to restrict the batsman and exert pressure on them. The main motive is to go for a wicket which benefits the team," he said.
Since making his debut in March this year, the Kanpur-born said he has learnt a lot in these six months by playing international cricket.
When asked about the change in coaching styles of Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri, he added, I think they both have treated me in the same manner. I don t find any difference as such and I don t think too much about this aspect.
"I focus more on how I can improve myself for the team. I used to speak with Anil sir and I speak with Ravi sir for this same thing."
India are already headlong into their preparation for the 2019 ODI World Cup. In that light, Yadav is keen to improve his fitness and fielding, whilst still enjoying the backing of Kohli on the strength of his spin prowess alone.
"Virat bhai keeps telling me to work on my fitness more than other things, but he also tells me to work hard on my bowling. It is good that the skipper believes in me and believes in wrist spinners. It is good for the team as well," said the Chinaman bowler.
"I think I have improved a lot. When I used to play for Under-19 Indian team, then I wasn t too fit. Today I feel that I am much fitter," he signed off.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kauldeep Yadav MS Dhoni afp")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}