True wrist-spinners possess a mesmerizing talent: making the ball dance even when the pitch offers little assistance. They achieve this magic by perfectly blending drift, flight, and dip, alongside subtle changes in their release point. This combination lures batters into a web of confusion, much like the legendary Shane Warne, who, at his peak, was a true master of deceptive spin on any surface.
Lately, Kuldeep Yadav has firmly established himself in this elite category. Despite his immense talent, it’s often puzzling why the 30-year-old from Kanpur hasn’t had more consistent opportunities at the highest echelons of cricket. Yet, whenever he dons India’s blue or white jerseys, his left-arm wizardry consistently claims crucial wickets.
His recent brilliance shone brightly against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, where the opposition could only manage a paltry 127 runs for nine wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While the slow pitch might not have encouraged aggressive batting, the amount of spin wasn’t particularly threatening.
Nevertheless, the Pakistani batsmen inexplicably retreated into their defensive shells, allowing Kuldeep to unleash his devastating spell. Though this was his first T20I encounter with Pakistan, the Indian spinner already boasts an impressive record of 15 wickets in seven One-Day Internationals against them.
Remarkably, Kuldeep was India’s standout bowler for the second consecutive Asia Cup match. After dismantling the UAE with four wickets in a dominant nine-wicket victory last Wednesday, he once again rendered Pakistan’s batting line-up helpless, securing three more wickets in another economical four-over performance.
Kuldeep’s victims included Hasan Nawaz, who mistimed a sweep shot directly to Axar Patel. Mohammad Nawaz, completely misreading a deceptive googly, was trapped leg-before-wicket. For opener Sahibzada Farhan, Kuldeep smartly widened his line outside the off-stump, leading to a simple catch at long-on.
Commenting on his performance, Captain Suryakumar Yadav stated in the post-match press conference, ‘I know Kuldeep was with the Test team and didn’t get a chance to play. But he dedicated himself to rigorous training, focusing on his fitness and bowling. His hard work is evident. He’s now delivered match-winning performances for us in two consecutive games.’