Indian-leg spinner Kuldeep Yadav talked about his performance in the series decider third ODI against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The chinaman bowler talked about his hat-trick chance and revealed why he missed it.
“Had the length been a bit shorter, that would have been a big chance,” Kuldeep Yadav on a missing hat-trick
One of the main architects behind India’s win in the third ODI against South Africa was leg-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav. The chinaman bowler made the Proteas batters look clueless with his ability to turn the ball on both sides.
Kuldeep bagged 6 wickets in the series with a best of 4/18 that came in the last game in Delhi. He also was on a hat-trick in Delhi after he removed Bjorn Fortuin and Anrich Nortje on two successive balls in the 26th over. He was on the verge of taking a hat trick but Lungi Ngidi denied him the achievement.
The leg-spinner apart from these two wickets picked the wickets of Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo. He was also awarded Man of the Match for his heroics in the final game.
Kuldeep talked about his performance after the game. He admitted that he bowled a full delivery that denied him hat-trick. Speaking to Mohammed Siraj after the game, he said:
“The plan was very simple for the hattrick ball. I was bowling the wrong’un from around the wicket before that so I thought the batter would be expecting the same. So, I had planned the normal delivery which comes into the right-hander, but I pitched it a little up, so it hit his bat-pad. Had the length been a bit shorter, that would have been a big chance.”
From getting close to picking up another hat-trick to winning Player of the Series award!
Bowling stars @imkuldeep18 & @mdsirajofficial discuss it all as #TeamIndia win the #INDvSA ODI series. 👍 👍 – By @ameyatilak
Full interview 🎥 🔽 https://t.co/JU9g2EqPte pic.twitter.com/DM1sj5PKr4
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 12, 2022
“I was looking for wickets straight away,” says Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav was brought late into the attack when South Africa was tumbling at 67/5. He then made an immediate impact and kept ticking wickets to put his team in an even stronger position. Reflecting on his plans, he said:
“First of all, it was a good performance. The bowling was good throughout the series, and the ball was gripping well today. So, I was just trying to bowl on a good length. They were five down when I came on to bowl, so I was looking for wickets straightaway. I was varying my pace, so I am happy with my performance.”
𝐂.𝐇.𝐀.𝐌.𝐏.𝐈.𝐎.𝐍.𝐒! 🏆#TeamIndia | #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/rHqevCsVxz
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 11, 2022
