The 3-match ODI series between India and South Africa is underway with the 1st One Day International today being played at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium situated in Lucknow. Opting to bowl first, Team India has left SA reeling with Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul, and Ravi Bishnoi amongst wickets.
Though Dhool took the first 2 wickets in quick succession and Bishnoi was the one to undo a settled Quinton deKock, a breathtaking off-spinner from Kuldeep has made sure the Chinaman is the one making headlines.
Kuldeep Yadav bowls a ripper to remove Markram; reminds fans of Babar’s 2019 WC dismissal
Bowling the 16th over of the match, Kuldeep Yadav had stringed 4 dots together against Markram after conceding a single off the initial ball.
Then came the final and best delivery of the lot: a ripping off-spinner. Aiden Markram, who had just come to the crease lunged forward to defend the full ball off his front foot. He couldn’t, though.
The ball, after pitching outside off-stump turned back into Markram very sharply, finding its path through the space between Aiden’s bat and pad. Both the bails were set ungrooved after the ball struck the top of the middle stump.
Absolute Beaut! ? ?@imkuldeep18 gets Aiden Markram out with a ripper! ? ? #TeamIndia
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The ripper from Kuldeep Yadav appeared extremely similar to his delivery that had dismissed PAK skipper Babar Azam during India vs Pakistan league stage game in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Back then, the ball had found its way between the bat-pad of Babar, muck like it today found between Markram’s.
Praising the 2019 delivery as a proper test grader, Kuldeep Yadav had then said it was his best in the tournament. Honestly, it was.
Coming back to the IND vs SA ODI, the match has been reduced to 40 overs per side. While Indian bowlers dominated the opposition early on, Killer Miller and Klaasen are staging a fightback as this piece gets written.
They’ve already added 63*(52) and look set to belt more in the upcoming overs. Here’s hoping both of them fire, but not enough to curb India.
Kuldeep Yadav has given just 34 away in 7 overs. His last over plus Avesh’s remaining 3 hold key for Team India and their search for a breakthrough.