Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav opened up about the emotional challenges he faced in the aftermath of India‘s defeat to Australia in the final of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
“It was really difficult. The first 7 to 10 days were really tough. Whenever I was waking up, the thought of losing the World Cup final was haunting me. But life changes and moves on.”
However, as life moved on, he found solace and embraced the opportunities ahead.
“I got an opportunity to play in South Africa, I last played here in 2018 so I knew the conditions well. In cricket what you want never happens, and you have to learn from them and implement those in future matches,” Kuldeep said after the final T20I between India and South Africa.
Speaking after a spectacular performance in the third T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg, where he celebrated his 29th birthday, Kuldeep expressed gratitude for the win and his five-wicket haul.
Reflecting on his return to South Africa, where he last played in 2018, Kuldeep acknowledged the challenges he faced and expressed satisfaction with his performance.
“It turned out to be a special day. I have never thought about taking five wickets. I just wanted the team to win which is more important.”
“I was concerned about my bowling because I was playing after some time, so wanted to get my rhythm. It was perfect today. The ball was coming out well from the hand, and the conditions too suited the spinners a bit,” Kuldeep shared.
Kuldeep, who had faced challenges with injuries in recent years, highlighted the changes he made in his bowling approach, focusing on being more aggressive, bowling straighter, and fine-tuning his length.
“In 2018, I was very new, and after that, a couple of years I struggled with my injury, and post-surgery I came back and made a few changes in my bowling, especially in my run-up. Trying to be more aggressive and just trying to bowl much straighter and focusing on length,” he concluded.
As India looks ahead to upcoming series and challenges, Kuldeep Yadav‘s impactful performance serves as a reminder of his resilience and contribution to the team’s success.
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