Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc on the Pakistani batting line-up in the Asia Cup Super-4 clash.
After Indian batters piled up a mammoth 356/2 on the board, the wrist-spinner ran through the Pakistani batting line-up, dismissing Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf to finish with the figures of 5 for 25 in his eight overs.
Thanks to his brilliance with the ball, India bundled out Pakistan for a paltry 128 in 32 overs and climbed to the top points table in Super 4s.
Kuldeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in the 50-over format this year, claiming 27 wickets in 14 games at an average of 16.18.
Addressing a press conference after the game, Kuldeep Yadav revealed his secret of success.
“I am just thinking about bowling in the good length and focusing on rhythm, that is more important for me, bit more aggressive as well, hitting the stumps every time, that’s really helping me a lot,” Kuldeep told the media.
“I have been playing regularly for the past one and half years after my knee surgery. Everyone now knows that my run-up has gone a bit straight. There is more aggression in the rhythm, approach is good and maybe earlier my bowling hand used to fall a lot, it’s under control and it is now facing more towards the batsman,” he added.
“At the same time, I have not lost my spin and drift, it is still there and my pace has also gone up that’s why it is helping me. For some time now I only think about hitting those good lengths consistently, it gives you more chances of taking wickets,” he explained.
Kuldeep's form took a dip post the 2019 World Cup. He lost his confidence, especially during his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In September 2021, the left-arm spinner sustained a knee injury and was released by KKR ahead of the IPL 2022 mega-auction, where Delhi Capitals got an opportunity to rope him in.
As it turned out, Kuldeep flourished while playing for DC last year, taking 21 wickets from 14 games. Since then, he hasn’t looked back and has cemented his place in the Indian white-ball team with one after another brilliant performance.
“Post-surgery was very frustrating for me. I was out for five months,” Kuldeep recalled.
“It has not happened overnight. It took me some time to get it right. Many people have suggested this also and in the meantime, I also never wanted to lose my zip, nip and drift. After the surgery when I completed my rehab for three months, then I realised that I must work on it.
“My physio at the NCA Ashish Kaushik told me whatever you are planning don’t put more load on your knee.
“To keep that in mind I tried to bowl faster and I started doing it in the practice matches in Kanpur. The batsmen were getting difficult to pick. When I was picked for the India team, I started replicating it in international matches. Initially It was very difficult for me, my rhythm was breaking and I was struggling in the IPL as well. it took me six or seven months to get my rhythm back after the surgery,” he further remarked.
With the 50-over World Cup around the corner, Kuldeep Yadav’s form is certainly a good sign for hosts India.
“I am very happy at the moment. One and a half years have been amazing for me. I have been bowling well. I don’t think too much about the playing XI, I am just enjoying my bowling.
“Every day, every morning when I wake up I only think about okay whenever I will get the opportunity, I will stick to what I have got. I have been working on my length throughout the IPL, the previous series also because for any spinner, it matters the most. I am just loving it at the moment,” said Kuldeep.
It was Kuldeep’s second five-wicket haul in ODI cricket and his first against Pakistan. “When you pick up five wickets against a big team, it really boosts your morale. ‘Kabhi jab cricket band karunga, retire hounga ye hamesha yaad rahega ki Pakistan ke against 5 wicket liye the (When I will retire I will always cherish this fifer against Pakistan),” he stated.
(The Indian Express Inputs)