Piyush Chawla has faith in Kuldeep Yadav and believes the chinaman will develop into a potent weapon in the near future. Piyush has known Kuldeep since his early days and have been teammates in the domestic circuit for Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

“I have seen him from a young age. We played together in the UP team... He has improved a lot and you can see that for yourself... You can see the difference...

“The way he is bowling right now and earlier... He’s doing really well in all the formats... I have high hopes and I’m hoping for the best,” Piyush, in the city as part of KKR’s initiative to plant 100 saplings at Nalban Food Park, said on Friday.

Kuldeep has been in good form in the series against the West Indies, picking up six wickets in the first Test and three on the opening day in Hyderabad.

Kuldeep has an ability to soak pressure, something that has reflected in his bowling for India and Chawla feels the chinaman will continue to do well.

Piyush doesn’t wish to read much into Kuldeep’s failure in England.

“He played at Lord’s and the conditions were really difficult. It was tough for him since he hardly got to bowl… So a bad game can happen to anyone,” reasoned Piyush.

There’s no doubt that the team management erred in getting the playing XI right.

Kuldeep Yadav should have been played at Edgbaston while he was picked at Lord’s, where conditions were overcast at the toss itself and the forecast was anything but good.

“Let’s not focus on that aspect any more… Let bygones be bygones,” said Piyush.

Besides Piyush, KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla was present at the function along with Shivam Mavi and Rinku Singh. Juhi focused on the sapling plantation drive and KKR’s care for the environment.

“We at KKR want to work for the environment. These days there is rampant abuse of the environment without realising the disastrous effects, be it through use of pesticides or plastic. We wanted to and have started to make a difference.

“At the outset we banned use of plastic at Eden Gardens during KKR matches and even started to use recycled paper in KKR banners and hoardings. We had pledged to plant trees in keeping with the number of sixes that were hit during the last IPL...

“Last season it was 100 and we are here to fulfil the promise today… We hope the number will be higher next season,” said Juhi.

The KKR co-owner and the players visited a few puja pandals in the evening.