The 22-year-old wrist spinner from Kanpur, Kuldeep Yadav has charmed everyone in a small span of time. So far so good, Yadav has claimed 32 wickets while playing 16 international matches for India.

The world is watching the new generation spin sensation as a replacement for old-school spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, though Kuldeep asserted that replacing the two has never been on his mind.

“I don’t think of that far. Both Ash and Jaddu bhai have been consistent performers for India in all the three formats. There’s no question of thinking about replacing them,” Kuldeep said on the eve of the second T20I in Guwahati.

Leading the three-match T20I series 1-0, India will take on the struggling Aussies in the second T20I at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday. Earlier on Saturday, the Men-In-Blue defeated Australia by nine wickets (D/L method) in Ranchi, where Kuldeep took important wickets.

“We are very young, and there’s a lot of cricket left in us. It has never crossed my mind,” the humble cricketer added.

Although he deceives the best of Australian batsmen with his wrist spin, Kuldeep doesn’t count himself as a mystery bowler.

“I’m not a mystery bowler who will bowl from different hands. Obviously, after two-three years they will pick you and it becomes easy for them. For me, if your basics like alignment and accuracy are right, it becomes easy for you.

“For me, it does not matter if someone tries to pick you from video analysis. If you bowl in right areas, have good variations, landing on the spot and beating the batsmen in the air, no matter how many times you see the video, it won’t matter,” Kuldeep continued.

Kuldeep doesn’t shy to credit Aussie Chinaman Brad Hogg for his success, with whom he was associated in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Indian spinner has always sought inspiration from Hogg and legendary spinner Shane Warne. “Both play a very important role in my career. I’ve followed Shane Warne since childhood. He’s my idol. My life will be a success if I could achieve 50 per cent of what he has achieved. I stay in touch with him,” Kuldeep added.

“I’ve been with Hogg in KKR for two seasons, I’ve learnt a lot from him as well. I still talk to Hogg on my bowling. It’s very important when you talk with senior players who have played a lot and legends in their games. Your career gets a boost even if you gain some experience from them,” he said.

Kuldeep sees himself lucky to have a spin partner like Yuzvendra Chahal. Both the spinners share a tally of 16 wickets among them, from four ODIs and one T20I in the ongoing series.

“I have a very good partnership going on with Chahal. We know each other for five years. It’s easy to understand each other’s plans. It helps on the ground if we keep talking to each other. There’s a good understanding going on between us. We bowl in partnerships in a match as well, the difference is evident,” he said.