NEW DELHI: Indian spinner
Kuldeep Yadav
expressed his amazement at the spin-friendly conditions on South African pitches, traditionally known for their pace and bounce.
Kuldeep celebrated his 29th birthday in style, becoming the second Indian bowler, after
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
, to claim two five-wicket hauls in T20Is and the first Indian spinner to achieve this milestone.
Reflecting on his remarkable performance, Kuldeep shared, "It turned out to be a special day. I have never thought about taking five wickets. I just wanted the team to win, which is more important."
He expressed his initial concerns about his rhythm, having not played for some time, but found the conditions favorable for spin bowling. Kuldeep's figures of 5/17 played a pivotal role as India secured a 106-run victory, leveling the three-match T20 series at 1-1.
"To be very honest, the wickets are very good for the spinners. The good thing about these wickets is that the ball comes very quickly after pitching. So sometimes, you have to vary your variations, and if you get it right, then it is very difficult to pick," he added.
Kuldeep's return to South Africa marked a triumphant comeback after a knee injury in 2021 forced him to undergo surgery and sidelined him for 6-7 months. Adapting with resilience, he made changes to his bowling technique, emphasizing aggression and a focus on length.
"In cricket, what you want never happens, and you have to learn from them and implement those in future matches," Kuldeep remarked, reflecting on the challenges he faced, including the recent loss in the ODI World Cup final to Australia.
India's victory in the third T20I was orchestrated by captain
Suryakumar Yadav
's spectacular 56-ball 100, setting the stage for India's total of 201 for 7. Kuldeep praised Suryakumar's brilliant batting, stating, "The way he was batting was great to watch because the pitch was not that easy for batting. It was really a treat to watch him bat."
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With the T20 series now leveled, the focus shifts to the three-match ODI series starting on Sunday in
Johannesburg
, promising more action and challenges for the Indian cricket team on South African soil.
(With inputs from PTI)
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