‘Kuldeep ne aag laga di hai bhai’ – Fans react as Kuldeep Yadav picks three-for in his ODI comeback
India and Sri Lanka faced off against each other in the second ODI of the three-match contest on January 12, Thursday and the Indian bowlers stood up for the team in the first innings, helping the Men in Blue get back into the game as the Lankan Lions got off to a great start after losing Avishka Fernando early in the innings for 20.
Post Fernando’s departure, it was the likes of Nuwanidu Fernando and Kusal Mendis who rescued the team by putting on a 73-run partnership for the second wicket. Much to the relief of the Indian fans, it was Kuldeep Yadav, who was included in the contest, who rattled the middle order, eventually picking up a three-for to his name.
To add more, Kuldeep managed to remove Kusal, Charith Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka in quick succession, eventually bringing the Indian team back into the game. While Kusal made his way back to the dressing room for a run-a-ball 34, Asalanka and Shanaka perished after contributing 15 and 2 runs respectively.
Kuldeep Yadav comes in as forced change for Yuzvendra Chahal: Rohit Sharma
Captain Rohit Sharma said that he was in two minds between batting and bowling first, citing India’s outing with the bat in the first innings of the previous match as an example. However, given that he lost the toss, the Men in Blue were forced to bowl first and it proved costly for the Lankan Lions as they were reeling at 209/8 after 39 overs, with Kuldeep finishing his spell after conceding 51 runs and picking up 3 wickets.
“ I was in two minds. Wanted to bat first because of how we played last time, but looking at this ground, I wanted to field. Overall, improvements are as a team, nothing in particular. What we’ve done in the past is in the past, we need to look ahead and keep doing better,” Rohit was quoted as saying at the toss.
“I love playing here, the crowd is also energetic and that motivates me always. But it is in the past, I need to start fresh. One enforced change for us, Chahal in the last game put in a dive and hasn’t recovered well today, so Kuldeep Yadav comes in,” he added.
Here’s how fans have reacted to Kuldeep Yadav’s spell in the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka:
Kuldeep Yadav doing everything right to stay in playing X1.
He deserves a chance ahead of Chahal !!#INDvSL #kuldeepyadav #Chahal— Vinay Kalra (@vinaykalra3) January 12, 2023
This should be enough to continue with #KuldeepYadav in ODI set up ahead of #yuzi#INDvSL
— Tushar (@Lazyblogger04) January 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/imabhi811/status/1613487499611082755?s=20&t=ou60dVUQOLfgzIpGYqellw
Kuldeep Yadav is bowling really well today. Kuldeep Yadav should be worried.
— Kanav Bali🏏 (@Concussion__Sub) January 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/iarjun_/status/1613483892450955265?s=20&t=ou60dVUQOLfgzIpGYqellw
Kuldeep ne Aag laga di hai bhai #INDvsSL
— Sparsh Bhardwaj 🇮🇳 (@iamSBhardwaj) January 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/Banraakass/status/1613483601986998272?s=20&t=ou60dVUQOLfgzIpGYqellw
https://twitter.com/themeforyou/status/1613481294104784897?s=20&t=ou60dVUQOLfgzIpGYqellw
https://twitter.com/iam_Vj4/status/1613478779023921152?s=20&t=ou60dVUQOLfgzIpGYqellw
@imkuldeep18 will be removed from the next match. He has taken 3 wickets in today's match so far.#BCCI#kuldeepyadav
— Amit Berde अमित बेर्डे (@amit_berde) January 12, 2023
