Dismissing Babar Azam Was My Best Delivery Of The Tournament: Kuldeep Yadav

After a stupendous show with the ball against Pakistan, India left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav said on Sunday that the delivery which dismissed Babar Azam during India's World Cup 2019 league contest with Pakistan at Old Trafford in Manchester was his "best delivery in World Cup 2019" so far. He termed his magical delivery, that floated away from the right-hander and turned back sharply to hit stumps, a 'dream' for any spinner. It was Kuldeep Yadav's day on Sunday as he returned with figures of 2/32 with his left-arm wrist spin and dominated in men in blue's 89-run triumph via DLS over arch-rivals Pakistan.

Yadav Azam bowled through the gate -- the ball nipping between bat and pad -- for 48 to end a 104-run second-wicket stand involving Azam and Fakhar Zaman, who top scored with 62.

"Getting Babar Azam out was the best delivery for me in this tournament. I got him out in the Asia Cup as well," Yadav told reporters.

"After the rain break I went back and watched that delivery. It had drift and turn, so any spinner will love that delivery.

"It's a proper dream delivery and a proper Test delivery. Deceiving the batsman in the air and making him commit the mistake. A perfect delivery," Kuldeep Yadav said with a smile.

He struck again in his next over to send the left-handed Zaman packing after the batsman played against the spin to give away a catch at short fine-leg.

Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya also took two wickets each to restrict Pakistan to 212 for six in a failed chase for their revised target of 302 in 40 overs.

"Both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman play spin well. They were rotating the strike and were attacking, so it was important to break that partnership," said Yadav.

"Getting Babar out and then another wicket put them under pressure and according to DLS they needed a very high run-rate and that was a plus point for us."

Pundits had raised doubts about Yadav's performance in the World Cup after coming off an ordinary show in the Indian Premier League.

But the 24-year-old spinner has held his own with 1-46 against South Africa and a breakthrough performance against Pakistan.

"Everyone is talking about my rhythm. I don't think I lost my rhythm. It happens when you don't pick wickets but the last three games I have bowled really well," he said.

"In the game against Australia they were struggling to hit me and that's important for any spinner."

India vice-captain Rohit Sharma stood out with his 140 off 113 deliveries during India's 336 for five in 50 overs.

But Sharma was quick to praise Yadav for his key strikes in the Pakistan innings.

"He's our match-winning bowler in that middle over phase, and today also you saw how important those crucial wickets were," said Sharma.

"Both the batsmen were set. Of course, he didn't start the tournament the way he would like to, but for us as a group around him, our job is to just make sure that he gets that confidence, he gets that backing from the team."

Yadav has claimed 90 wickets from 47 ODI matches since his debut in 2017.

(With AFP inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team Pakistan Cricket Team Kuldeep Yadav Babar Azam Old Trafford, Manchester World Cup 2019 India vs Pakistan, Match 22 Cricket