India wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav got a well-earned Player of the Match award as he helped the Men in Blue rout the South African team in the third and series-deciding ODI which was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
After being put into bat first by Shikhar Dhawan, who won the toss, South Africa was bowled out for 99 runs with Kuldeep Yadav taking 4/18. Apart from him, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Shahbaz Ahmed took two wickets apiece.
In the chase, Shubman Gill’s 49 were enough as India won by 7 wickets in the 20th over, with Shreyas Iyer also making 28*.
Talking about his performance and chances in the ODI World Cup 2023, Kuldeep Yadav said at the post-match press conference: "The World Cup is far away. I am not thinking about it. I have become very practical now with things. I focus on the series I play. I have become experienced now, so I have an idea how to bowl. My aim is to perform well in every series.”
Kuldeep Yadav sustained a knee injury in 2021, which came after a prolonged dull period of form with the ball. After getting back from the knee injury, he had an amazing IPL 2022 for Delhi Capitals.
He most recently recovered from a broken hand and said that he has worked on her rhythm which has helped him.
He said: "I have worked on my rhythm after coming from my injury. That is why I could get the pace that I was earlier generating from my hand. So right now, I am not compromising on spin. I am getting a good turn.”
Kuldeep Yadav was not considered for the T20 World Cup 2022, but he said he wasn’t disappointed at the snub.
"I am not disappointed (on not getting selected) in the T20 World Cup as I am working on my process match by match. I am assessing how I can improve. My confidence has gone up because of the (last edition) IPL. I got injured after that. I bowled will against West Indies, Zimbabwe and in India A series. I am able to now pitch the ball where I want to,” he said.
Talking about changing from T20 to ODI format the spinner said: "There is a lot of difference between T20 and ODI. After playing IPL, in Zimbabwe, I had to change my rhythm and pace. The batter has a lot of time to play a shot so I had to vary my pace. In T20Is, you have to hit the right lengths and it is rare that you flight the deliveries.”
(PTI inputs)
