According to Kuldeep Yadav, he was again lucky to get wickets during a match against Pakistan due to ‘better rhythm’ motion after returning from injury and hopes that he gets better with each match he has to face in the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Kuldeep became the fifth Indian spinner to claim 300 international wickets when he struck during the ICC Champions Trophy Group A match against Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The left-arm spinner struck three times in the death overs and almost ended with a hat-trick.
He underwent surgery early last year for a sports hernia that kept him from the game for over three months.
“Normally injuries take six months to recover from. I played two matches in England, and I had a good rhythm. I was also in good rhythm against Bangladesh.
“But obviously, you are always looking for wickets (he went wicketless against Bangladesh). Today, in my first over, it felt like I am walking into a better rhythm. I am feeling comfortable today.
“Even now I feel like I can bowl better. I have played three to four matches. I’ll get better as I play,” said Kuldeep in the Mixed Zone, following his side’s six-wicket victory over fervent rivals.
Kuldeep picked up the wickets of Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah. On being asked, he said, “In my first spell, I bowled a lot of Chinaman (left-arm unorthodox deliveries). The wrong’un is my variation. The topspin with the wrong’un is an additional option.
“The first wicket of Salman was a normal Chinaman. It was slow, but I varied the pace. Obviously, the second wicket was a first-ball swing. I was targeting the wicket. I thought it was a better option hitting the wrong’un.”
“I actually need to think about the sort of deliveries which I can pitch. And that becomes troublesome when it’s a slow track because the incoming deliveries are difficult, like I said, this is a plan that I made.”
But Kuldeep believes that it will come easier with more rotations at the crease.
“Honestly, as far as accuracy is concerned, I think if I play more, it will be much better. Obviously, if you play a lot of cricket, some mix happens with the pace.”
He also embraced the significant role of an unorthodox bowler in the death overs.
“I was able to do the last 10 overs as the first-choice bowler. Even the captain asserted that it is difficult to hit spinners with variations. Fortunately for me, the wicket was slow. I was trying to mix with the pace and right ones or topspin.
“Once they get one or two wickets in the middle overs, the batsmen try to block you. That’s what they did in the last 10. Now facing Pakistan, there is a lot of pressure. There are million expectations. I enjoy that,” Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep has credited the NCA for his speedy recovery from hernia.
“I really give a lot of credit to NCA. I worked with Rajni. Dhananjay, our physio, was working under Nitin Patel. I had not taken a day off. I had two days off, and he called me back. I was determined because I knew if I wasted too much time, I would miss out on the Champions Trophy. I did not expect as much, but very soon enough everybody was looking after me very well,” said Kuldeep.
