Asia Cup 2023: Kuldeep Yadav Fastest Left Arm Spinner To Take 150 Wickets In Odis, Records In Ind Vs Sl Match – Asia Cup 2023, Ind Vs Sl Match
Asia Cup 2023: Kuldeep Yadav Fastest Left Arm Spinner To Take 150 Wickets In Odis, Records In Ind Vs Sl Match – Asia Cup 2023, Ind Vs Sl Match. In his 88th One Day International (ODI) appearance at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, Kuldeep Yadav delivered a remarkable performance. He bowled out Sri Lanka’s Mathisha Pathirana in a stunning manner, marking a significant milestone in his career as he secured his 150th ODI wicket.
Pathirana appeared completely baffled when facing Kuldeep’s expertly pitched delivery, showcasing Yadav’s ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Kuldeep Yadav has truly evolved into a magician, weaving spells of wrist-spin wizardry with finesse, particularly when introducing variations to his pace. These days, whenever he decides to change the tempo, batsmen find themselves struggling to decode his deliveries.
At the age of 28, Yadav’s proficiency with the white ball has always been exceptional, but what sets him apart is his fearless approach, unwavering mental fortitude in the face of challenges, and an unrelenting commitment to self-improvement.
Variations are a vital component of Yadav’s repertoire, and they were on full display during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. While he had a relatively slow start, his performance against Nepal showcased his aggressive intent, even though he remained without a wicket in his ten-over spell.
It was during the clash against Pakistan that Kuldeep Yadav truly stole the spotlight, following the brilliant centuries by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. He targeted Fakhar Zaman, dismissing him and gradually entangling Pakistan’s batting lineup. His scalps included Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Faheem Ashraf, culminating in his second ODI five-wicket haul.
After enduring two consecutive days of grueling play, including the reserve day for Pakistan’s game, India faced a rigorous test of recovery, fitness, and match preparation. Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat first, following Virat Kohli’s achievement of becoming the second-fastest player to reach the 10,000-run mark in ODIs, proved to be a strategic one.
As the ball aged and the pitch conditions deteriorated, Dunith Velazquez and Charith Asalanka emerged as formidable threats, claiming a combined nine wickets to restrict India to a modest total of 213 runs.
Chasing a challenging target in trying conditions, Sri Lanka found themselves in deep trouble right from the outset, courtesy of a blistering new-ball attack by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
However, it was the introduction of Kuldeep Yadav that proved to be the turning point. With sheer brilliance, he dismissed the in-form Sadira Samarawickrama and the first-innings hero Charith Asalanka. Yadav went on to clean bowl the Lankan tail, sealing India’s qualification for the finals of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.
