Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif lavished praise on Kuldeep Yadav after India secured a comprehensive win of nine wickets against UAE in the ongoing Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Wednesday.
The wrist spinner returned with figures of 4-7 in 2.1 overs he bowled against the hosts. Yadav accounted for UAE captain Muhammad Wasim, Rahul Chopra, Harshit Kaushik, and Haider Ali. Thus, Kuldeep played a key role in skittling UAE at 57 and was awarded Player of the Match.
Yadav had not played a single Test match on the England tour but he was able to hit the ground running against the UAE.
Mohammad Kaif said on Instagram video, “Kuldeep Yadav did not play any match on the England tour. He sat out throughout the series and served water. He only practiced, and after 108 days, he got the opportunity to play in the Asia Cup against the UAE. With four wickets, he became Player of the Match.”
“Kuldeep Yadav gave just seven runs and bagged four wickets. He took three wickets in his second over, in just one over. The match ended there. Bowled just 13 balls and bagged four wickets, and there were 11 deliveries to spare. If he had bowled those 11 balls, he would have finished with five or six wickets,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Natwest Trophy final hero added Kuldeep could be India’s trump card in the continental tournament.
“Don’t say that the UAE is a weaker team. I can understand. You can bring Pakistan, New Zealand, play an IPL match, you bowl him anywhere in the middle overs, he’s a genuine wicket-taker. That’s why the Indian team has got a bowler who has form and became Man of the Match. Asia Cup mein yeh ban jayega turup ka ikka (He will become X-factor in Asia Cup).”
India will next take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, on Sunday.
