Kuldeep Yadav: ‘I’ve been watching Saud Shakeel…’: Kuldeep Yadav explains his strategy against Pakistan | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav‘s keen observation and precise execution of dismissal strategies emerged as the game-changer in a high-stakes showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup. In a clash that had been the center of attention, Yadav’s tactics bore fruit as he outfoxed Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel with a deceptive leg-spinner, causing it to skid off the pitch and strike Shakeel on the pads.
Scorecard: India vs Pakistan
While the on-field umpire initially showed little enthusiasm for a leg-before-wicket (LBW) decision, a review was called for, and it played into the hands of the Indian team. Technology confirmed that the ball’s trajectory was destined to impact the middle and leg stumps, leading to a successful dismissal.
Kuldeep, speaking about his calculated approach, disclosed, “I’ve been watching Saud Shakeel in the last couple of games, and he had been attempting the sweep shot quite frequently. He thought that ball was slow, but it skidded on.”
In a game-defining moment, just four balls later within the same over, Yadav’s tactical brilliance shone through once more as he bowled Iftikhar Ahmed with a cunning wrong’un. This crucial wicket turned the tide in India’s favor, as Pakistan’s score plummeted from 155 for two to 166 for five. Earlier, Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan had constructed a substantial partnership, accumulating 82 runs for the third wicket.

Describing his strategy on the day, Kuldeep Yadav explained, “The wicket was a bit slow. We were focusing on the length. They were not attacking too much, so I was just focusing on my pace and my variations.”
He continued, “I was bowling very well, not offering too much width due to the field restrictions. They weren’t trying too much. Rizwan didn’t sweep me a lot, so I wanted to induce a mistake.”
The India-Pakistan match, a fixture often touted as the highlight of the tournament, witnessed a stellar performance from the Indian team. They successfully bowled out Pakistan for a modest 191 in front of a packed Narendra Modi Stadium, leaving fans in awe of the incredible atmosphere.

Kuldeep summed up the experience, saying, “Unbelievable to play in front of this crowd. This atmosphere is crazy, playing against Pakistan and seeing close to 90,000 people here.”