INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | SALIVA USE RETURNS FOR BALL SHINE THIS SEASON
Lucknow, April 2: Delhi Capitals began their IPL 2026 campaign on a commanding note, registering a convincing six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Wednesday. The win, however, was as much about the result as it was about the resurgence of Kuldeep Yadav, whose confident spell drew praise from Cheteshwar Pujara.
Speaking after the match, Pujara highlighted the transformation in Kuldeep’s bowling over the past couple of years, attributing it largely to a surge in self-belief.
“Confidence makes a massive difference for any bowler. Kuldeep is now bowling without fear. There was a phase when he lacked belief in his own abilities, but that has clearly changed. With confidence comes the hunger to perform, and that’s exactly what we are seeing now,” Pujara remarked.
Kuldeep, played a crucial role with the ball, finishing with two wickets. He removed opener Mitchell Marsh, who had looked set after scoring 35 off 28 balls, and later dismissed Mukul Choudhary with a simple caught-and-bowled effort.
Interestingly, Kuldeep’s spell had its moment of challenge when Marsh welcomed him with a towering six. But the left-arm wrist spinner showed no hesitation in sticking to his attacking approach, tossing the ball up and inviting the batter to take risks. The tactic paid off almost immediately, with Marsh holing out in the deep just deliveries later.
Pujara noted that this fearless mindset has been key to Kuldeep’s effectiveness. “Even after being hit, he continues to give the ball flight and tempts the batter into playing an aggressive shot. That’s the confidence he has developed,” he added, pointing out that the spinner’s execution has also improved alongside his belief.
With this result, Delhi Capitals have now extended their dominance over Lucknow Super Giants, securing a fifth consecutive win against them in the IPL—marking one of their most consistent head-to-head runs in the tournament.For Delhi, it is an ideal start. For Kuldeep, perhaps, it is the continuation of a journey back to his very best. (Agencies)
