Shane Warne has been my idol, reveals Kuldeep Yadav

The world of cricket was in complete shock when they heard Shane Warne passed away on March 4 due to a suspected heart attack. There have been plenty of memories with Warne all across the globe, and India’s Kuldeep Yadav shared one of them in a recent chat with Sports Yaari.

Firstly, Kuldeep said Warne has always been his idol and then he revealed his special conversation with the Australian great when India toured Australia in 2018-19. Ahead of the Sydney Test, Kuldeep recalled he met Warne in the tunnel, and the maestro requested him to keep a smile on his face all day. Kuldeep, of course, kept his words.

“Before the match started, we met in the tunnel. He (Warne) put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'I'll be in the commentary box. I want to see you smiling out there. I don't care how you bowl. I just want to see a smile on your face’,” Kuldeep was quoted as saying by Sports Yaari.

“So, all I tried to do out there was to smile. And because I was there with a positive mindset, I performed well as well. I dedicated my performance to him after the game. He has been my idol. He was out there, sitting in the box. And I had taken five wickets. It was a big moment for me. I learned by watching him play.”

After a resounding IPL 2022 campaign with Delhi Capitals, Kuldeep will be again to regain the good old form back when India takes on South Africa on June 9 in Delhi in the first of the five-match series.