Photo by Kuldeep Yadav from Asia Cup 2023.© AFP
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took home the Man of the Tournament award in the 2023 Asia Cup. He finished the event as India’s second-highest wicket-taker, with nine scalps in four innings at an average of 11.44 and an economy of 3.61. . His best figures were 5 for 25 against Pakistan. “I don’t think much; I just read the wicket. It’s very important for me to get the right length and keep bowling at the right length,” he said. “I also read the batsman, what shot he is trying to play. I have used my wrong flipper and flipper efficiently, and I get a lot of confidence from it.
“I’ve been working a lot (on the wrong side) over the last year and a half. The rhythm is something that breaks quite often and it takes time to get it back.” Kuldeep’s form had taken a downward spiral in 2019 and it took him almost four years to get his rhythm back.
“I’m lucky to have found that rhythm again. It took a while and wasn’t easy, but now it’s smooth and aggressive, along with the pace; I really enjoyed it.” Siraj’s stupendous spell prevented Kuldeep from bowling in the final over. The latter, however, was happy that he had bowled efficiently in the three matches in which he bowled.
“I think the way you (Siraj) bowled today, I’m glad I didn’t have to bowl today. You deserve this moment. And when a team is bowled out for 50, you always want the match to end quickly.
“It doesn’t matter whether I have bowled or not. I have bowled in two (three) matches where I have bowled well and I am happy with it.”
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