Kuldeep Yadav’s three wickets for just 19 runs were instrumental in India’s emphatic victory over Bangladesh in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup. The left-arm wristspinner’s return to familiar Caribbean conditions proved fruitful, but it came after a watchful wait in the wings during the group stage held in the USA.
Kuldeep Yadav spins India to win
Kuldeep Yadav‘s figures ensured Bangladesh’s strong start fizzled out. His ability to maintain an impeccable length, keeping the batsmen guessing about the ball’s spin, was on display throughout his four overs.
Openers Tanzid Hasan and Towhid Hridoy, both well-set batters, fell prey to his guile, misjudging deliveries and being trapped LBW. Even the experienced Shakib al Hasan couldn’t handle Kuldeep’s variations, holing out after a miscued slog-sweep.
The key to Kuldeep’s success lies in his ability to bowl a delivery that dips sharply despite rising above the batsman’s eye-line. This requires exceptional use of his body to generate the torque needed for sharp spin, a skill he mastered even amidst the Antigua breeze.
Kuldeep Yadav makes light of Drinks Carrier duties
Kuldeep Yadav has now picked up five wickets in India’s Super Eight matches, following his two-wicket haul against Afghanistan. Team management’s decision to hold him back for the Caribbean leg, believing the pitches would better suit his spin, proved to be a masterstroke.
While Kuldeep admitted he was eager to play in the group stages, he also understood the logic behind his benching. He took his wait in stride, even making a light-hearted remark about his time on the sidelines: “I was helping out the team-mates and carrying drinks [in the US]. That is more like playing,” he joked. “But here, on these wickets where I made my T20 and ODI debuts for India in 2017, I knew the conditions well. It was just about finding the right length and pace.”
Kuldeep focuses on job at hand
Having a bowler play their first competitive match so deep into a high-pressure tournament is unusual, but Kuldeep downplayed any added nerves. “It’s important to approach every game normally,” he said. “Obviously, the Super Eight brings pressure, especially with Australia up next. But the wickets favour spinners, and my plan was simple: bowl four overs, focus on length, and vary my pace.”
Kuldeep Yadav’s wicket-taking deliveries were spread across his last three overs. A fizzing googly that turned in sharply accounted for Tanzid Hasan, while a straighter delivery deceived Towhid Hridoy. Shakib’s dismissal came via a well-disguised slower ball that tempted him into a miscued shot.
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Windy conditions in Caribbean
Bowling from the Sir Andy Roberts End, Kuldeep had to contend with a strong cross breeze that can assist left-handed batsmen playing on the leg-side and vice-versa. He, however, stressed the importance of not overthinking its effect. “The rhythm for a spinner is different from a fast bowler,” he explained. “I focused on maintaining length and reading the batsmen’s minds, one step ahead. With the wind, I just reacted to what they were doing.”
Kuldeep’s final point highlighted his clear strategy: “When the opposition needs a high run rate, I stick to my length and plans. If you bowl well, you create chances. That’s my thinking, not just getting wickets, but bowling in good areas.”
With Kuldeep in top form, India look well-equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in the Super Eight stage.
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