Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav had yet another memorable night, more so rightly on his birthday, as he scalped yet another five-wicket haul. The spinner was instrumental in ensuring India’s mammoth 106-run win against the Proteas in the third and final T20I. India now have leveled the series 1-1.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Kuldeep Yadav termed the night as a ‘special one’ for him and noted that he was bowling in good rhythm. Pointing out that the pitch was spin-friendly, he said that he was happy with his performance.
‘Tough for…’: Kuldeep Yadav opens up on World Cup loss
Reflecting on the process of moving on from India’s heartbreaking loss in the World Cup 2023 finals, the Chinaman revealed that it was initially tough for 10-12 days.
“It was initially tough for the first 10-12 days. Whenever you wake up, you think what if I could have done this better. Anyways, life changes and things move on. I have gotten an opportunity to play in South Africa after 2018. I know the conditions here well. Cricket is always like that, what you want that never happens. And you have to learn from that and implement it in the next games”, Kuldeep said.
A better than before Kuldeep in SA
He added that when he last toured South Africa in 2018, he was new and that a couple of years after that he struggled with his run-up rhythm. Post-surgery, some changes were made to his run-up and more focus was on the length as opposed to premeditating what the batsmen would do, Yadav said.
Asked when which of his five wickets was his birthday present, the spinner picked Suryakumar Yadav’s knock among all of them. The Indian skipper went berserk as he smashed his 4th T20I hundred, helping India put up a mammoth 202-run target.
Yadav shines as IND beat WI by 106 runs
Kuldeep registered figures of 17 for 5 in 2.5 overs as Proteas got bundled out for 95 in a 202-run chase. The wrist-spinner became the first Indian spinner to pick a 5-wicket haul twice in T20Is in SENA countries.
This was also Kuldeep Yadav’s best figures in a T20I. His previous best was 24 for 5 against England in Old Trafford in 2018. The veteran spinner also becomes the first ever cricketer to take a fifer on birthday in men’s T20Is.
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