Kuldeep Yadav became only the third Indian bowler ever to take a hat-trick in ODI cricket. In the second match of the ongoing ODI series between India and Australia, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed three Australian batsmen in consecutive balls and became the first Indian spinner to take a hat-trick in ODI cricket.
In the post match presentation ceremony, Kuldeep Yadav said that he never thought he would take a hat-trick in ODI cricket. Kuldeep also said that he struggled to find the right spot in his first 7 overs. He also added that he went for 3 consecutive sixes in the last match and it was a great learning experience for him.
This is what Kuldeep Yadav said:
“Not really (could never dream it). Initially, I was struggling to bowl in a particular area. It’s a game of cricket, everything happens. The last match, where I was hit for three sixes in an over, was a learning experience.
Yadav also said that he asked MS Dhoni before his hat-trick delivery that what he should bowl and Dhoni told him to back his ability and bowl his best delivery. Usually, captains and seniors give advice to young guns and try to guide them, but Dhoni operates differently. He allows youngsters to learn from experience. He keeps pointing out their bad moves but when it comes to delivering at the big moments, he used to back his bowlers during his captaincy days, and now, as a mentor, he is giving the right amount of space young players need to ‘learn from experience’.
This is what Kuldeep Yadav said about MS Dhoni:
Asked Mahi bhai what I should bowl, he said ‘tujhe jaisa lagta hai wo daal (bowl what you want)’. This is special for me, changed the game for us. Really proud moment,” Kuldeep Yadav said in the post match presentation.
Indian captain Virat Kohli also backed his spinners and said good words about them.
“Two young spinners bowling with a lot of heart, speaks volumes about their characters. Really augurs well for us how the team is shaping up,” said the captain who was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his 107-ball 92 in India’s 252 all out.
