Dubai: Kuldeep Yadav is acutely aware of the expectations placed upon him to secure wickets. As a left-arm wrist-spinner, he occupies a unique niche in the cricketing landscape, and for a time, the novelty of his style contributed to his success in taking wickets. Subsequently, his variations rendered him nearly unplayable. However, such distinctive traits can lose their effectiveness over time.

Once batters acclimate to his bowling, the bowler often encounters difficulties. This was the case for Kuldeep as well, but he diligently refined his run-up and delivery pace, leading to further improvement. Central to his development is his aggressive approach towards batters. He has adopted a mindset that embraces the possibility of being hit, which marks a significant turning point in his performance.

Following a wicketless outing in the initial match against Bangladesh, Kuldeep likely felt the pressure to maintain his position in the playing XI, especially with the enigmatic spin option of Varun Chakravarthy available to the Indian team. However, in a display that underscored his value to the team management, he demonstrated his return to form with an impressive three-wicket haul against Pakistan on Sunday.

This performance marked Kuldeep’s first significant impact in a match since undergoing groin surgery. Given the physical demands placed on a spinner during their bowling action, Kuldeep recognized that maintaining good fitness is essential for achieving optimal rhythm. Any deficiency in fitness can adversely affect the quality of his deliveries.

“Injuries can sometimes require up to six months to regain your rhythm,” he remarked to reporters on Sunday. “I felt I was in good rhythm during the second of the two matches against England. Against Bangladesh, I felt positive, although the batters were cautious in their approach.

“Today, as I bowled my first over, I sensed that I was in a better rhythm. I am in a comfortable state, and I believe my performance will continue to improve. I am confident that I will soon reach my peak form.”

Kuldeep is of the opinion that there remains potential for enhancement in his accuracy; however, his performance against Pakistan was commendable, attributed to his optimistic approach.

He delivered a flighted ball to the right-handed Salman Agha from over the wicket, successfully deceiving him in the air. The catch was directed to the offside. Shaheen Shah Afridi was caught off guard as a swift wrong-un resulted in him being trapped in front. Subsequently, he concluded Naseem Shah’s late assault by outsmarting him in flight, leading to a catch in the deep.

The astute spinner from Kanpur executed all three deliveries with remarkable precision. The strategy was straightforward—bring the ball into the batters, as this would present a more formidable challenge on the sluggish pitch.

“On pitches like this, you often become the preferred choice for bowling the final 10 overs. Even the captain recognized that it is quite challenging to score against spinners when they possess variations. Fortunately, the conditions suited me well. The wicket was slow, and I aimed to vary my pace with wrong-uns and topspin,” he remarked. “If you manage to secure one or two wickets in the middle overs, the batsmen tend to adopt a defensive approach. That was their strategy in the last 10 overs. The captain made it clear to me, ‘I need wickets. If you can provide me with wickets, that would be excellent’.”

Kuldeep achieved three wickets. This exemplifies one of India’s significant advantages over many other teams in the tournament: they possess spinners capable of performing effectively not only in the middle overs but throughout various phases of the game.

During his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Kuldeep was uncertain about his participation in the Champions Trophy. He was unfit when India faced the disappointment of Test defeats at home against New Zealand and in Australia. Although he must have been eager to bowl, he had to exercise patience. This period was undoubtedly frustrating, yet one could argue that it has ultimately proven beneficial.

“When participating in high-stakes matches, one aims to deliver their best performance. Competing against Pakistan, given our historical rivalry, the pressure from fans, and the high expectations, is something I relish. I strive to perform at my best in crucial games and remain committed to continuous learning,” he stated.

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