(ANI Photo)
While fast bowlers initially spearheaded India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, it’s now the spinners’ turn to shine in the Super 8 stage on favorable Caribbean pitches.
Kuldeep Yadav, one of India’s specialist spinners, impressed with figures of 3-19 in four overs against Bangladesh, contributing significantly to India’s comprehensive victory. Post-match, the left-arm wrist-spinner discussed his strategic bowling approach for the remainder of the tournament.
Following the game, 29-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav emphasized the significance of bowling lengths in T20 cricket. He also highlighted the advantage of staying ahead of batsmen as key to his success.
“For any spinner around the globe, the length matters a lot. And especially in this format, you have to read what the batter is trying to do, be more aggressive, the approach should be very – very aggressive. So that is actually helping me during IPL and it’s helping me in the T20 World Cup,” Kuldeep said.
“When the other team needs like 10 runs or 12 runs per over and the batter is going against you, my plan is to just stick with the length,” Kuldeep answered when asked about the game plan when the batters are looking to be more aggressive.
“When they try to attack you, if you have a proper plan against them and you are bowling in probably the better length and you have maximum chances of getting the batter out. So that is my thinking, not thinking I have to get him out, just the length,” he added.
Kuldeep Yadav, sidelined during the group stage due to pace-friendly conditions in New York, was slated for a significant role in the Caribbean leg. True to expectations, he has made a notable impact, claiming 5 wickets in two matches with an impressive average of 10.20 and an economy rate of 6.37.
“Obviously, I wasn’t playing. Actually, I was playing as a 12th man there. I was helping out the teammates and carrying the drinks. That is more like playing. I didn’t bowl there but I would have loved to bowl there, Kuldeep replied when asked about his exclusion from the group stage.
“But it was more like an Australian sort of wicket. But here I played, I made my T20 ODI debut here back in 2017. I knew the conditions very well, just the length and trying to vary my pace. So it is nice for spinners to come here and bowl, he added.
India maintained their unbeaten streak in the T20 World Cup 2024 with a commanding 50-run victory over Bangladesh on Saturday (June 22) in Antigua. Despite India’s formidable batting performance, it was once more the bowlers who ensured Bangladesh remained out of contention in the match.
