India vs Sri Lanka 2023

'Agle Match me phir baitha denge' - Twitter trolls team management as Kuldeep Yadav once again shines with the ball

Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav put up a tremendous display of bowling as he picked up three wickets in second ODI.

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Akshay
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Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav (Source: Twitter)

Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav(Source: Twitter)

After taking a 1-0 lead against Sri Lanka in the first ODI, the ‘Men-in-Blue’ took on Sri Lanka in the second ODI at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first. Sri Lanka had a good start to their innings as debutant Nuwanidu Fernando scored a half-century. They were 102/1 after 16.5 overs but suffered a dramatic collapse as Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around them.

The left-arm wrist spinner was brought into the attack in the 17th over and ended the 73-run partnership between Fernando and Kusal Mendis as he trapped Mendis in front of the stumps on the last ball of the over. Mendis departed after scoring a run-a-ball 34. He further picked up his second wicket in his fourth over dismissing captain Dasun Shanaka, who scored an unbeaten 108 in the first ODI.

Shanaka tried to sweep a delivery pitched on the leg stump and got bowled around his legs. Charith Asalanka was Kuldeep’s third scalp who gave a straightforward catch to the spinner in the 25th over leaving his side at 126/6.

The 28-year-old had a good 2022 with the ball in ODIs where he picked up 12 wickets in eight matches at an average of 27.75 and economy of 4.95 with one four-wicket haul to his name. He also had a remarkable comeback in Test cricket last month as he picked up 8 wickets and scored a crucial 40 in the first Test against Bangladesh. Kuldeep was also awarded ‘Player of the Match’ for his sensational performance.

Kuldeep Yadav was dropped after picking fifer in first Test against Bangladesh

However, he was surprisingly dropped from the second Test to make way for Jaydev Unadkat. It was Kuldeep’s just second Test since he picked up a five-wicket haul against Australia in Sydney in 2019. After his fifer, he got his next chance in whites two years later against England at home in 2021.

The wrist spinner has lacked support from the team management in recent years but is making strong statements with his performances every time he has got a chance.

Sri Lanka were bundled out for 215 in the second ODI as Kuldeep finished with figures of 3/51 in 10 overs.

Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on Kuldeep’s performance. Here are some of the Tweets:

Rohit Sharma Dasun Shanaka IND vs SL Kuldeep Yadav