World Cup 2019: Turn and twist

Manchester: Kuldeep Yadav finds it extremely frustrating that he is being lauded for getting his rhythm back, something the India spinner feels he never lost in the first place. Kuldeep’s contribution in India’s big win over Pakistan on Sunday was massive as he dismissed two set batsmen in Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman.

“Everyone is talking about my rhythm but I never thought that I lost it,” the irritation was palpable in Kuldeep’s voice as he spoke to the media in the mixed zone. Asked about Babar’s dismissal, the young left-arm wrist spinner said it as “one of his best deliveries”.

“I think (this is) one of the best deliveries in this tournament for me. I had earlier dismissed Babar Azam when we played the Asia Cup last year. He is a good player of spin. “From a team’s point of view, they (Babar and Zaman) were going very well. They were striking it well and also rotating the strike. We all know a wicket was crucial. It put them under pressure and after that Fakhar also got out,” there was a sense of satisfaction in Kuldeep’s voice.

The ball was an off-break for right-hander Azam but a conventional leg-break for the left-arm wrist spinner. “I watched it when we came back for the break. The delivery had drift and turn and any spinner would have loved to bowl that delivery. It was a dream delivery. You can call it a proper Test match delivery. Deceiving the batsman in the air and forcing him to make mistake,” he said. Kuldeep, whose economy rate has been less than five per over, is happy with the way he has bowled till now. “It’s just happens sometimes that you don’t pick wickets.

As a player, it can be frustrating when you don’t get wickets, for you and even your family. I am a player and when I don’t get wickets, I start thinking why am I not getting wickets.”

“From last three games, I have been bowling really well. In the last game against Australia, they were struggling to hit me and that is more important,” he said.