IND vs SL 1st ODI Live: Kuldeep Yadav returns to form, shines with 2/48 against Sri Lanka – Team India wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav picked two wickets in his comeback game against Sri Lanka in the first ODI here at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday. Kuldeep Yadav was dropped from the playing XI after the 2nd ODI against England earlier this year where he gave away 84 runs in 10 overs.
4️⃣2⃣ overs
Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 197/62️⃣ for @deepak_chahar9 & @imkuldeep18
1️⃣ each for @yuzi_chahal & @krunalpandya24 #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/s6UiPgYzVi— BCCI (@BCCI) July 18, 2021
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Kuldeep picked two wickets in the same over to put Sri Lanka on the backfoot. The chinaman bowler removed Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa on 24 on the first ball of the 16th over. Rajapaksa tried to hit a big shot against Kuldeep but the ball went straight up in the air. India captain Shikhar Dhawan took a fine catch to end Rajapaksa’s innings.
IND vs SL 1st ODI Live: On the fourth ball of the 16th over, Kuldeep took the wicket of host’s wicket-keeper batsman Minod Bhanuka 27. He bowled a tossed up delivery outside off, inviting the batsman to have a go at it. Bhanuka attempted for a drive and got an outside edge that went straight to Prithvi Shaw at slip.
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Kuldeep has struggled at the international level in the recent past. An interesting stat about him is that he has performed better when former India captain MS Dhoni used to keep wickets for him. With Dhoni behind the wickets, Kuldeep picked 91 wickets in 47 matches while without Dhoni he took 14 wickets in 16 matches.
IND vs SL 1st ODI Live: Ahead of the first ODI, former India bowler Ajit Agarkar said that Kuldeep needs to get his confidnece back. “Sometimes I feel that it was a little bit unfair on him (Kuldeep) to miss out on series. But he needs to get his confidence back and start bowling well. Both him and Chahal know there are guys behind them and if you have a competition, the team will do well,” said Agarkar in a virtual press conference.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that it is a moment of happiness for him as Kuldeep Yadav is back among taking the wickets. Pathan’s comments came as Kuldeep took two wickets in the same over in the ongoing first ODI against Sri Lanka here at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.”Happiness is seeing @imkuldeep18 getting wickets. #wickettaker,” tweeted Pathan.
