Kuldeep Yadav appeared last in the ODI against Australia in March and now made an impressive comeback by securing 4 wickets in a recent match between India and West Indies.
Kuldeep Yadav’s last appearance for the Indian cricket team was in an ODI against Australia in March. However, when he returned to do the Indian jersey after a four-month gap, there was no sign of rust. He delivered a devastating performance. In a mere three overs, he claimed four wickets, contributing significantly to West Indies’ collapse at 114 in just 23 overs. Kuldeep’s remarkable four-wicket haul, combined with Ravindra Jadeja’s three-wicket performance, laid the foundation for India’s convincing victory against West Indies in the opening match of the three-ODI series. Among Kuldeep’s victims were West Indies captain Shai Hope, who top-scored with 43 runs, along with Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah, and Jayden Seales.
Yadav, brought in as the sixth bowler, sparked the collapse that led to the last seven wickets tumbling for only 26 runs. His remarkable display resulted in four wickets for just six runs in three overs, earning him the title of man-of-the-match. Reflecting on his performance, Yadav stated, “I’ve dedicatedly worked on improving my rhythm over the past two years. Last year, it wasn’t at its best, but now it’s coming out very well.”
Yadav’s performance stood out with increased pace and impeccable rhythm. In a post-match interview, Yadav delved into the details of his behind-the-scenes efforts, revealing that he successfully added pace to his deliveries without compromising on length and drift. According to him, this transformation has been a two-year journey.
“For the past two years, I’ve been dedicatedly working on my rhythm. Having achieved that desired rhythm and an increase in pace is truly satisfying, as it was a specific goal we aimed for. Combining the enhanced pace with the same level of spin and drift makes it challenging for the batsmen, especially in the white ball format. During the mid-innings break, Yadav shared these insights with the broadcasters, emphasizing the crucial focus on length in his bowling.”
Right from the beginning, India asserted its dominance over the Windies batsmen, first through an energetic display of fast bowling. As the ball aged, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav swiftly dismantled the opponent’s lineup.
The fast bowlers’ display with the new ball was remarkable. Mukesh, Shardul, and Hardik made a strong start. Umran provided some pace, and then Jadeja and I took over. The ball was offering spin, so our focus was on maintaining the right length. The windy conditions made controlling the drift challenging, but we managed well. Overall, we are pleased with our performance,” explained Yadav.
Although Yadav bowled merely three overs, he was convinced that the pitch favoured spinners. His conviction was further bolstered by the impressive performance of his teammate, Jadeja, who also excelled with the ball in the same match. Yadav’s display showcased not only his individual skill and tactical prowess but also highlighted the cohesive efforts of the entire Indian team.