Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav revealed that he started doubting himself after getting benched in the Test series against Australia and England. He featured in the playing XI in the second Test match against England in Chennai after waiting for over two years. The wrist-spinner said that he was under a lot of pressure during the Test match.&nbsp;

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"I didn't play as many matches as I expected to, and somewhere I was low on confidence. When you are playing non-stop, players do feel high on confidence. The more one sits out the more it gets tougher. I felt a huge pressure on me when I played the Test against England in Chennai this February (his last Test was in January 2019). Due to Covid there was nothing happening, so things got really tougher even more last year. It wasn't the best period," Kuldeep told The Indian Express in an interview.

Kuldeep Yadav is not a part of India's 20-member squad for the World Test Championship finals against New Zealand and the five-match Test series against England. Yadav talked about his battle&nbsp;with thoughts of self-doubt and added&nbsp;that at one point he felt that serving drinks was 'the best'.

"Sometimes I felt, 'what is going on?'. It was difficult times. Sometimes, the mind says, 'ab shayad woh Kuldeep nahi rahe' (Perhaps, I am not the same Kuldeep). Sometimes I feel, 'no, I am still the same' and I wait for the opportunity," Kuldeep said.

"There were days when you feel serving drinks and being on the bench is for the best – yaar yeh to best seat hai apne liye – and then but there are days you don’t want to be in that place. I would think, I should have been there playing. I tried to motivate myself every time. I try to be happy and feel that I am bowling well. There was self-doubt somewhere. It happens with everyone, I started questioning myself."

Kuldeep is yet to feature for Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently-suspended IPL 2021.&nbsp;

"I was, especially when I didn't find a place in my IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. I wondered, 'am I that bad?' It's a team-management decision and it would be wrong to go and ask them," Kuldeep responded when asked if we depressed.

"I wasn't played in Chennai during the IPL despite knowing it's a turner. I was a bit shocked but couldn't do anything. The bio-bubble life has also thrown challenges for everyone. When I am not playing, nothing looks nice."

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav revealed that he started doubting himself after getting benched in the Test series against Australia and England. He featured in the playing XI in the second Test match against England in Chennai after waiting for over two years.

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav revealed that he started doubting himself after getting benched in the Test series against Australia and England. He featured in the playing XI in the second Test match against England in Chennai after waiting for over two years. The wrist-spinner said that he was under a lot of pressure during the Test match. ALSO READ: New Zealand's Watling to retire after India final "I didn't play as many matches as I expected to, and somewhere I was low on confidence. When you are playing non-stop, players do feel high on confidence. The more one sits out the more it gets tougher. I felt a huge pressure on me when I played the Test against England in Chennai this February (his last Test was in January 2019). Due to Covid there was nothing happening, so things got really tougher even more last year. It wasn't the best period," Kuldeep told The Indian Express in an interview. Kuldeep Yadav is not a part of India's 20-member squad for the World Test Championship finals against New Zealand and the five-match Test series against England. Yadav talked about his battle with thoughts of self-doubt and added that at one point he felt that serving drinks was 'the best'. "Sometimes I felt, 'what is going on?'. It was difficult times. Sometimes, the mind says, 'ab shayad woh Kuldeep nahi rahe' (Perhaps, I am not the same Kuldeep). Sometimes I feel, 'no, I am still the same' and I wait for the opportunity," Kuldeep said. "There were days when you feel serving drinks and being on the bench is for the best – yaar yeh to best seat hai apne liye – and then but there are days you don’t want to be in that place. I would think, I should have been there playing. I tried to motivate myself every time. I try to be happy and feel that I am bowling well. There was self-doubt somewhere. It happens with everyone, I started questioning myself." Kuldeep is yet to feature for Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently-suspended IPL 2021. "I was, especially when I didn't find a place in my IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. I wondered, 'am I that bad?' It's a team-management decision and it would be wrong to go and ask them," Kuldeep responded when asked if we depressed. "I wasn't played in Chennai during the IPL despite knowing it's a turner. I was a bit shocked but couldn't do anything. The bio-bubble life has also thrown challenges for everyone. When I am not playing, nothing looks nice."

'What is going on?': Kuldeep Yadav talks about his thoughts after being benched

Team India's playing XI for the first Test against England left many puzzled as Kuldeep Yadav's name was omitted from the list.&nbsp;

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Due to Axar Patel's knee injury, many cricketing experts felt Kuldeep could be selected for the match, however, Shahbaz Nadeem was chosen instead. Nadeem's inclusion came as a surprise as he was not the part of the original India squad.&nbsp;

After losing the first Test to England, Kohli was asked about the reasons behind not playing Kuldeep in the first Test to which he replied that he does not regret the decision.

"Not really, not at all. When you playing two off-spinners, Kuldeep becomes more or less same kind of spinner taking the ball away," Kohli said at the press conference.

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"We were quite clear on what we wanted to play, what combination we wanted to play. There are no regrets whatsoever on that decision. Moving forward, we will think of combinations, which brings us variety as a bowling attack," he added.

"And not one dimensional, turning away from the bat. These things are very important to bat," Kohli further said.

Visitors England registered a mammoth 227-run over hosts as James Anderson and James Leach produced great bowling spells to crumble India's batting order on Day 5 of the first Test, taking a lead of 1-0 in the series.

Team India's playing XI for the first Test against England left many puzzled as Kuldeep Yadav's name was omitted from the list. ALSO READ: Ind vs Eng: Virat Kohli creates new record during fourth innings of Chennai Test Due to Axar Patel's knee injury, many cricketing experts felt Kuldeep could be selected for the match, however, Shahbaz Nadeem was chosen instead.

Team India's playing XI for the first Test against England left many puzzled as Kuldeep Yadav's name was omitted from the list. ALSO READ: Ind vs Eng: Virat Kohli creates new record during fourth innings of Chennai Test Due to Axar Patel's knee injury, many cricketing experts felt Kuldeep could be selected for the match, however, Shahbaz Nadeem was chosen instead. Nadeem's inclusion came as a surprise as he was not the part of the original India squad. After losing the first Test to England, Kohli was asked about the reasons behind not playing Kuldeep in the first Test to which he replied that he does not regret the decision. "Not really, not at all. When you playing two off-spinners, Kuldeep becomes more or less same kind of spinner taking the ball away," Kohli said at the press conference. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli's captaincy career could end if India lose 2nd Test against England: Monty Panesar to WION "We were quite clear on what we wanted to play, what combination we wanted to play. There are no regrets whatsoever on that decision. Moving forward, we will think of combinations, which brings us variety as a bowling attack," he added. "And not one dimensional, turning away from the bat. These things are very important to bat," Kohli further said. Visitors England registered a mammoth 227-run over hosts as James Anderson and James Leach produced great bowling spells to crumble India's batting order on Day 5 of the first Test, taking a lead of 1-0 in the series.

'There are no regrets whatsoever on that decision': Virat Kohli on Kuldeep Yadav's omission from playing XI

Former India opener and Kolkata Knight Rider skipper Gautam Gambhir said that he was surprised that the Indian Premier League franchise chose to retain left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav for the 2021 season.&nbsp;

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While speaking on Star Sports network, Gambhir said that KKR should have allowed Kuldeep to go elsewhere in case he is not in their plans for the future.

"I am a little surprised about Kuldeep Yadav being retained because he did not get the opportunities. I would have wanted to see Kuldeep Yadav go to a franchise where he gets an opportunity to play," the former left-handed batsman said.

"Because if you are playing for India and not part of your franchise's playing XI, it is somewhere or the other be harmful to your career."

During the 2020 season, Kuldeep could not leave any impact in the league as he featured in just 5 out of 14 matches, despite Narine being out for some games.&nbsp;

"Now that you have retained him, they should play him. Otherwise, I feel Kuldeep Yadav should have himself said that if he is not in their scheme of things, he should be given an opportunity to go and play somewhere else," he added.

"If Kuldeep Yadav had come into the auction, a lot of franchises would have gone for him," he signed off.

The Kolkata-based franchise also retained Varun Chakravarthy and Narine in the team, and in that case, which means Kuldeep may find it hard to make it into the team in the 2021 season.

Former India opener and Kolkata Knight Rider skipper Gautam Gambhir said that he was surprised that the Indian Premier League franchise chose to retain left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav for the 2021 season.

Former India opener and Kolkata Knight Rider skipper Gautam Gambhir said that he was surprised that the Indian Premier League franchise chose to retain left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav for the 2021 season. ALSO READ: IPL 2021 auction likely on February 18: BCCI official While speaking on Star Sports network, Gambhir said that KKR should have allowed Kuldeep to go elsewhere in case he is not in their plans for the future. "I am a little surprised about Kuldeep Yadav being retained because he did not get the opportunities. I would have wanted to see Kuldeep Yadav go to a franchise where he gets an opportunity to play," the former left-handed batsman said. "Because if you are playing for India and not part of your franchise's playing XI, it is somewhere or the other be harmful to your career." During the 2020 season, Kuldeep could not leave any impact in the league as he featured in just 5 out of 14 matches, despite Narine being out for some games. "Now that you have retained him, they should play him. Otherwise, I feel Kuldeep Yadav should have himself said that if he is not in their scheme of things, he should be given an opportunity to go and play somewhere else," he added. "If Kuldeep Yadav had come into the auction, a lot of franchises would have gone for him," he signed off. The Kolkata-based franchise also retained Varun Chakravarthy and Narine in the team, and in that case, which means Kuldeep may find it hard to make it into the team in the 2021 season.

'Now that you have retained him, they should play him': Gambhir on Kuldeep Yadav