IPL 2022: Kuldeep Yadav got mental security at Delhi Capitals, says Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals gave a sense of security to Kuldeep Yadav, something that brought the best out of the India wrist spinner, all-rounder Axar Patel said on Sunday. Having warmed the bench of his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for the last two seasons, Kuldeep made a match-winning debut for Delhi Capitals, returning with 3 for 18 to be adjudged the Player-of-the-Match in their IPL-15 opener at the Brabourne.

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Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav spoiled a party that seemed like it was headlined by Ishan Kishan for 35 overs of the match. With five overs of intelligent, clean and proactive batting, the duo took Delhi Capitals from 104/6 in 13.2 overs to 179/6, overhauling the 178-run target set by Mumbai Indians

"It's all about the mindset. He was struggling in the IPL as his place was not secured for KKR. He was not sure whether he will play all their matches," Axar said at the post-match media conference, when asked about the secret of Kuldeep's turnaround. "But he feels that surety of playing matches after coming over here. If you know your place is secured, and not that you have to perform in two matches otherwise you will be sacked from the team, then you can give your best."

Kuldeeep was not picked for a single match last season and injury forced him out of the tournament. In 2020, he was included in just five matches as the spinner went out of favour in KKR's scheme of things with the arrival of Varun Chakravarthy. Having joined KKR in the 2016 season, Kuldeep has overall played 45 matches for the franchise, taking 40 wickets at an average of 30.90.

But after being bought by Delhi for Rs 2 crore at the