New Delhi, April 25: At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, Gujarat Titans were having a flying start in their chase of 225 against Delhi Capitals. They had amassed 61/1 from Power-play and it looked like they would ace another chase. But with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav operating from both ends, DC were beginning to have some control.
After Axar was taken for 13 runs in his second over, the onus was on Yadav to get DC a breakthrough. In his second over, Yadav bowled three short balls, before enticing Wriddhiman Saha to slice at a spinning away delivery. To his and DC’s delight, Saha went for a huge slash, but couldn’t keep it down and Axar timed his jump well at cover to take the catch.For the rest of his spell, Yadav would mix tossed-up and short balls, while varying the pace. He signed off with a spell of 2-29 by catching a faint edge of Rahul Tewatia through a short ball outside off-stump, which was safely pouched by Rishabh Pant. In a match, where the aggregate was 400+ as fans were treated to another run-fest, Yadav’s spell was the best amongst spinners from both sides.
“Happy to get the win! These two points are very important. Was an amazing game, held our nerve in the last over and turned out to be very tight. Obviously we had a plan. Coach and captain wanted one over (from me) when (Rahul) Tewatia came out (to bat).”
“I bowled a few balls to Tewatia into the wicket. I thought he would slog sweep. That was a good plan with Rishabh (in the end), and we got his wicket and it put us in a good position,” said Yadav after DC won the match by four runs.
Focusing on a steady line and length was also the key to his success against GT. “You have to read the batsman and see what they are trying to do. We batted well and put up a good total on the board. I didn’t try too much when I came out to bowl. The line and length mattered a lot,” added Yadav.In a season in which batters have majorly called the shots through blazing Power-plays and Impact Player empowering them to go harder on the bowlers, it is heartening to see Yadav hold his own, as seen from 12 wickets in six matches this season, being second leading spin wicket-taker in the tournament after Yuzvendra Chahal. (IANS)
