Kuldeep Yadav is now India’s top spinner in white-ball cricket. In recent months, the left-arm wrist spinner has re-emerged as a match-winner for the Indian squad.
Yadav was an important member of India’s spin bowling group in 2018 and 2019 as well, but his numbers dipped a bit in 2020 and 2021. The Indian selectors did not even consider him for the T20 World Cup team in 2021 and 2022. He worked hard on his game to make a return in 2022, and has not looked back ever since.
Kuldeep Yadav was selected as India’s lead spinner in the 2023 World Cup. He has played six matches in the tournament so far, taking 10 wickets with an average of 26.10 and a strike rate of 34.8 per match. His economy rate has been less than five runs per over.
Kuldeep’s ability to generate a stunning delivery out of nowhere is one of the main reasons for his success. With his spin and variations, he can fool even the finest batter in the world. In this article, we will look at Kuldeep’s three finest deliveries delivered on the grand stage of Cricket World Cups.
1. Kuldeep Yadav’s Masterpiece Delivery That Shattered Babar Azam’s Stumps in 2019 World Cup
Yadav made his dramatic entrance into the 2019 World Cup with a wonderful delivery to Pakistan batter Babar Azam in the 22nd match. On the last delivery of the 24th ball, Yadav delivered to Babar at Old Trafford in Manchester.
The ball slid nicely over Babar before whirling hard into the right-hander. It smashed through the fence and shook Babar’s stumps. With his line and length, Kuldeep pushed Babar to play down the incorrect line. On that stunning delivery, the Pakistan batsman was clean bowled.
2. Kuldeep Yadav’s Unbelievable Ball That Shocked the World in 2023 World Cup
Last night, India faced England in the Bharat Ratna Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. England’s bowlers were outstanding, limiting India to 229/9 in 50 overs. England lost four early wickets to Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah while chasing 230.
England supporters expected captain Jos Buttler to play a captain’s knock and save the side from losing. Buttler was bowled out by a fantastic ball from Kuldeep Yadav that rotated roughly 7.2 degrees.
This one, like the one to Babar Azam, was flung up a little and turned hard into the right-hander, leaving him perplexed. This delivery has been dubbed the ‘Ball of the 2023 World Cup’ by several fans.
3. Kuldeep Yadav’s Superb Ball That Ripped Through Glenn Maxwell’s Defence
At the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India faced Australia in their first match of the 2023 World Cup. The wicket aided the spinners slightly, and Kuldeep Yadav took full advantage of it.
He struck Australia’s dangerous all-rounder Glenn Maxwell with a length delivery on the stump line. The Australian attempted a powerful shot, but the ball twisted and sailed past him, finally uprooting his leg stump. Maxwell couldn’t believe he’d thrown away his stumps on that ball.
