Kuldeep Yadav reveals Kevin Pietersen’s advice for England tour, says DC mentor asked to play with attacking mindset

Indian wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has revealed Kevin Pietersen’s advice for the ongoing England tour. Pietersen was Delhi Capitals’ mentor for IPL 2025 and shared his experience with Yadav. The former swashbuckling batter told Kuldeep to take the field with a attacking mindset and look for wickets rather than bowl defensively in English conditions.

India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be rested for the second Test to manage his workload and thus Kuldeep’s role is going to become even more important, if he gets a game. Yadav had not played the opening Test match as Ravindra Jadeja was backed as the solitary spinner. But Jadeja had failed to create an impact, taking a single wicket in the whole Test match.

Meanwhile, Yadav has scalped 56 wickets in 13 Test matches at an impressive average of 22.16. Against England, Kuldeep has bagged 21 wickets in six Test matches at an impressive average of 22.28.

“Kevin Petersen was part of our team at DC. He gave me a lot of inputs for the England tour. He told me about fielding positions, pitches and the batsmen. We ran through their batting line up. He told me about the mindset needed in England,” Kuldeep said in an interview with the Indian Express.

“Pietersen said that generally spinners come to England with a defensive mindset. They think that in England, fast bowlers will get wickets and they will be in a supporting role. He told me to take the field with an attacking mindset. If I get a game and bowl 15 to 20 overs, I have to always think about how to get the batsmen out,” he added.

Yadav said if a bowler doesn’t take wickets, he doesn’t deserve to play in the final XI.

“Apan ko kuch aata nahi hai bowling ke aalava (I don’t know anything other than bowling). If you don’t take wickets, you can’t justify yourself for playing in England. If you don’t take wickets, I don’t think you deserve to play,” Kuldeep Yadav said.

The second Test match between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2nd onwards.