"Normal For Me To Not Get Picked Due To...": Kuldeep Yadav's Big Confession

Getting dropped due to conditions that require a specific playing combination has been a "normal" thing for Kuldeep Yadav and the left-arm wrist spinner believes that it is better to make every opportunity count than fret on chances that he lost over the years. The Kanpur man snapped 4 for 6 in just three overs to lead India to a five-wicket win in the first ODI against the West Indies on Thursday.

He won the 'Player of the Match' award and it would be fair to say that his googlies (one that turns away from right handers) were at times unreadable.

"Most of the times, when I don't get to play it is because of the situation and combination. It is a normal thing now. I have been playing cricket for so many years, it has been more than six years now. These things are normal," he told reporters during the post-match press conference.

While dropping his guard for a split second, he was back to speaking about "process" and how he focusses on his length rather than obsessing about taking wickets.

"I don't think much about taking wickets now. My focus is more on the process that what length I should be bowling," he said.

Kuldeep, who has taken 19 wickets from 9 ODIs this year, hasn't consistently found a place across versions in the Indian side.

He was left out of the second Test against Bangladesh despite taking eight wickets, including a fifer and scoring a crucial 40 in the first innings last December.

"Since the past one and half years, when I have returned from the injury, I have tried to bowl on those good lengths. I want to be more consistent with the length, and as far are wickets are concerned, on some days, you will get the wicket, while on others, you won't.

"Situation is also very important. I try my variations only