Kuldeep, known for his left-arm wrist spin, has shone in the World Cup, amassing eight wickets and becoming India’s primary slow bowler on tracks conducive to turn.
He played a pivotal role by claiming two crucial wickets in India’s recent triumph over New Zealand, and his match-winning performance of 2-35 against arch-rivals Pakistan earlier in the tournament was particularly notable.
Although he initially started his cricketing journey as a fast bowler and was a fan of former Pakistani left-arm quick Wasim Akram, Kuldeep’s shift to spin was guided by his coach’s advice.
“If there is any doubt (with how I am bowling), I look at his old action,” Kuldeep said in an International Cricket Council (ICC) column on Monday.
ICC World Cup 2023: India beat New Zealand by By 4 wickets in Dharamshala
“I feel I am very lucky to have spent some time with him and to have been his good friend. I used to watch him on the television and observed how he used to dismiss batters and his planning.”
Kuldeep added: “He was quite strong mentally. When I played in Sydney (2019 Test), he helped me quite a bit. I learnt my bowling from him and he is the person I have followed forever.”
Warne, who died in March, 2022, at the age of 52, is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, taking 708 wickets in Tests and 293 in ODIs.
Kuldeep, 28, overcame a serious knee injury to return to the international game last year. He has taken 160 wickets in 95 ODIs since his debut in 2017.
(With AFP Inputs)