Kuldeep Yadav discussed the significance of taking early wickets in the semi-finals at a location like Wankhede Stadium, which provides very little support for the bowlers, following the overwhelming victory over the Dutch team.
On Sunday, November 12, in Bengaluru, India defeated the Netherlands by 160 runs to continue their undefeated streak in the ODI World Cup 2023. The Men in Blue can win the ODI World Cup a record three times with two more victories. The matchup they have next is in Mumbai on Wednesday, November 15, in the semi-finals versus New Zealand. One of India’s top performers at the current edition of the major tournament is Kuldeep Yadav.
It’s a challenging place to bowl. Batsmen frequently dominate there because of the true bounce. Naturally, there is more time for the bowlers to return to the game than there is in T20. But it’s true that you need a few early wickets to take control of the match and your opponents, India Today cited Kuldeep Yadav.
By the way, in the Manchester semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup, New Zealand and India squared off. The Kiwis prevailed by 18 runs after maintaining their composure. Kuldeep, a participant in that match, stated that since then, the two squads have faced off frequently. In the ten-team competition, he anticipates India to maintain the winning streak that has seen them win nine straight games.
“That was four years ago, in the 2019 semifinals (against NZ). Since then, we and them have played numerous bilateral series, so we are both familiar with the circumstances in India. We have been able to play excellent cricket throughout the tournament thanks to our excellent preparation. Thus, we anticipate carrying on in a similar manner into the following game as well,” Kuldeep Yadav continued.
Kuldeep Yadav: “I just keep focusing on the process instead of wickets.”
The 28-year-old’s total in nine matches at the main event is at 14 after he picked up a few wickets against the Netherlands. His miserly economy rate of 4.15 and superb average of 22.29 demonstrate how well he has carried out his bowling plans. According to Kuldeep Yadav, he places more emphasis on getting the ball in the appropriate spots and concentrates more on the process than on getting wickets.
“I just focus on how batsmen are trying to play me and work on my rhythm and strengths.” My goal is to make as many decent length landings as I can. I simply keep thinking about the process instead than the number of wickets. I’m hoping it works in the upcoming game as well,” Kuldeep said.