On Wednesday, December 14, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav turned 28 years old. In three instances in 2022, he demonstrated that he was fully recovered. He appeared to have lost his place on India’s T20I, ODI, and Test teams just a year ago due to a few bad matches.
He was warming the seat in the IPL. In addition, he sustained a serious knee injury that prevented him from returning for several months.
His transformation in 2022 was motivational. Kuldeep took 12 wickets at an average of 27.75 in eight ODIs, his strongest format, down from 127.50 in 2021. He was overlooked for the T20 World Cup despite having chances in just two T20Is.
He made a full return to international cricket as one of India’s most exciting bowling prospects when he was recently called up to India’s Test team for the Bangladesh tour, almost three years after he last played in an international match.
The following is a look at his three best spells thus far this year, as he currently plays in the first Test at Chattogram:
3/12 Vs West Indies in Florida
Kuldeep started his comeback with one-day internationals, where he consistently performed well against Sri Lanka and West Indies. His inclusion in the latter’s T20I series in August was due to this. He was able to play in a one-time dead-rubber against Sri Lanka in February, but those were the early days of his comeback, and he came back without a wicket.
He also got a chance in this series because India had already won the five-match series 3-1. It demonstrated the team’s lack of faith in his format skills.
The spinner jumped at the chance with both feet. He got West Indian commander Nicholas Pooran lbw in his first done with a speedy flipper. Prior to his injury, his inability to beat batters with pace was a major criticism. It was as sweet as a comeback wicket gets to do that against one of the biggest spinners.
The 28-year-old won the match for India with figures of 3/12 after getting both Dominic Drakes and Odean Smith, who had hit him for a lot of runs in the ODIs, in the same over with a googly and another quick one.
He turned the ball the two different ways, tested the hitters with loopy conveyances, and took care of business, giving extraordinary indications of his re-visitation of his pre-physical issue best.
4/18 Vs South Africa in Delhi
If one disregards the personal pressure, the Twenty20 International against the West Indies was not particularly significant for Kuldeep. His toughest test came in the three-match One-Day International series against South Africa before the World Cup.
In that series, India played a team that was almost second-string against a team that was almost full-strength. And he prevailed.
In the third match, with the series level at 1-1, he got a splendid four-wicket pull, surrendering just 18 runs and assisting India with packaging out the Proteas for a simple 99.
Andile Phehlukwayo was forced to play one onto his stumps for just one run when he was brought on in the 20th over, where he once more stuck. The next three wickets were typical of Kuldeep: ruthlessly and consistently wrapping right-handed batters on the pads or turning the ball away.
He won the Player of the Match award after striking out the final three batters. Because of his unique skills, which necessitate more practice than tailenders can afford, cleaning the tail was always expected of him. He still had it, as this match demonstrated.
5/40 Vs Bangladesh in Chattogram
The greater part of the people who watched Kuldeep bowl on Thursday thought exactly the same thing – – Why has he played only three Tests for India throughout the course of recent years?
He showed excellent control while playing on a slow, low pitch that was not ideal for leg spinners. His dip and drift were superior to that of the opposition’s most experienced spin players, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
He priced out quick, sharp movement, which helped him get Nurul Hasan and Taijul Islam, but the pitch did have some turn.
It was a complete performance that made the announcement that “Kuldeep is back.”