Getting Babar out was ‘dream’ delivery, says India’s Yadav

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MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, June 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – India’s Kuldeep Yadav
admitted bowling Pakistan batsman Babar Azam in the World Cup with a magical
delivery that tossed and turned was a “dream” for any spinner.

Yadav returned figures of 2-32 with his left-arm wrist spin to play a key
role in India’s 89-run victory via DLS over arch rivals Pakistan in
Manchester on Sunday.

Yadav got Azam bowled through the gate — the ball nipping between bat and
pad — for 48 to end a 104-run second wicket stand involving Fakhar Zaman,
who top scored with 62.

“Getting Babar Azam out was the best delivery for me in this tournament. I
got him out in the Asia Cup as well,” Yadav told reporters.

“After the rain break I went back and watched that delivery. It had drift
and turn, so any spinner will love that delivery.

“It’s a proper dream delivery and a proper Test delivery. Deceiving the
batsman in the air and making him commit the mistake. A perfect delivery,” he
said with a smile.

He struck again in his next over to send the left-handed Fakhar packing
after the batsman played against the spin to give away a catch at short fine
leg.

Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya also took two wickets each to restrict
Pakistan to 212 for six in a failed chase for their revised target of 302 in
40 overs.

“Both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman play spin well. They were rotating the
strike and were attacking, so it was important to break that partnership,”
said Yadav.

“Getting Babar out and then another wicket put them under pressure and
according to DLS they needed a very high run-rate and that was a plus point
for us.”

Pundits had raised doubts about Yadav’s performance in the World Cup after
coming off an ordinary show in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

But the 24-year-old spinner has held his own with 1-46 against South Africa
and a breakthrough performance against Pakistan.

“Everyone is talking about my rhythm. I don’t think I lost my rhythm. It
happens when you don’t pick wickets but the last three games I have bowled
really well,” he said.

“In the game against Australia they were struggling to hit me and that’s
important for any spinner.”

India vice-captain Rohit Sharma stood out with his 140 off 113 deliveries
during India’s 336 for five in 50 overs.

But Sharma was quick to praise Yadav for his key strikes in the Pakistan
innings.

“He’s our match-winning bowler in that middle over phase, and today also
you saw how important those crucial wickets were,” said Sharma.

“Both the batsmen were set. Of course, he didn’t start the tournament the
way he would like to, but for us as a group around him, our job is to just
make sure that he gets that confidence, he gets that backing from the team.”

Yadav has claimed 90 wickets from 47 ODI matches since his debut in 2017.