Here’s What Siddharth Kaul Was Doing When he Received Maiden India Call-up
The Indian cricket team’s bench-strength has become a lot stronger as compared to before 2006-07 era. It has been changing every year and getting stronger with incredible talent. It has been proving every time when the selectors announce the squad for any series.
No matter it is batting or bowling, Indian team now has a lot of options to try while playing a little-relaxed series or a dead-rubber. Ahead, team India set to play 3-match ODI series after the Tests, yet another cricketer has received his maiden call from the national team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Monday, announced the squad for remaining Test and following ODI series against Sri Lanka. While skipper Virat Kohli has been rested from the limited-overs series, Rohit Sharma will take the skipper’s cap and Punjab pacer Siddarth Kaul has been included in the team for ODIs for the first time.
The 27-year-old came into the spotlight when he bowled the famous last while playing for Kohli in 2008 U-19 world cup in Malaysia which India won, has been rewarded for his fruitful performances in the domestic circuit including IPL and Ranji Trophy. On his debut for Punjab in 2007 against Orissa, Kaul had notched up a five-wicket haul.
Kohli has since gone on to become one of India’s greatest batsmen, Ravindra Jadeja has been an established name from that squad while the likes of Saurabh Tiwary and Abhinav Mukund have made sporadic national team appearances.
Till date, the right-arm pacer has played 50 first-class games and has 175 wickets to his name and 98 wickets in 52 List A games. Kaul also performed well for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. Overjoyed with his India call, he said that it’s a reward for his performance in the domestic circuit.
“I was always hopeful that if I keep performing, I would get my share of chances. Yes, it was a great feeling to win the U-19 World Cup but all these years I knew that good performance at the domestic level would be rewarded. I had to focus on being consistent in domestic cricket. That was my endeavor and this is a reward for that,” said Kaul.
“I would give a lot of credit to our Punjab team trainer Sagar Diwan. He was associated with the Chandigarh Golf Club and now with the Ranji team. Training with him has increased my fitness and stamina and has also helped in increasing my pace. I am also able to move the ball both ways consistently,” he added.
Talking cricket with senior pros like Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh has helped Kaul a great deal.
“Yuvi paaji and Bhajju paa are inspirations for all of us in the Punjab team. They have played so much of international cricket that even the slightest input during match situations can improve you as a bowler. “Whenever they have been around, I have only gained as a player. It’s not like they would coach you but just give you subtle hints about what to do in specific situations.”
“My father Dr. Tej Kaul has always been my coach. Even today any technical difficulty I have with my bowling, I consult him. Also, it helps that my elder brother Uday has been an established first-class cricketer and a wicketkeeper. “When your brother is a wicketkeeper, you get first-hand input about how the ball is releasing out of your hand,” Kaul concluded.