Kuldeep Yadav’s Journey from Benched Player to Match Winner in T20 World Cup Praised by Aakash Chopra

June 25, 2024 0 751

In the T20 World Cup 2024 game against Australia, Kuldeep Yadav once benched for almost a year, delivered a match-winning spell against Australia, earning praise from Aakash Chopra for his remarkable comeback.

In a must-win game at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, India won over Australia by 24 runs. Held in St. Lucia, India posted 205 runs, with captain Rohit Sharma smashing 92 off 41 balls.

Australia’s chase began strongly with Travis Head scoring 76 off 43 balls, but their momentum faltered against India’s effective bowling attack. Kuldeep Yadav was one standout performer, conceding only 24 runs in his four overs and taking the crucial wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. His efforts were instrumental in restricting Australia to 181/7, effectively eliminating them from the tournament.

Kuldeep’s journey has been remarkable. Once benched for almost a year and dropped from various formats, he has made a strong return. Commentator Aakash Chopra highlighted Kuldeep’s resilience, noting his transformation from a player who was sidelined to one delivering match-winning performances.

“Kuldeep Yadav – there are many stories. Remember, he is the same player who cried in an IPL match. This is the same Kuldeep Yadav who sat on the bench for an entire year and was dropped in every format,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“However, if you see Kuldeep Yadav now, you can see the entire Test series against England, the performance in the entire ODI World Cup, and the last match or this one, he has been absolutely outstanding. He bowled four overs here and conceded only 24 runs and picked up two wickets, and who were the two victims – were Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. What a player. The rise and rise of Kuldeep Yadav,” he added.

Kuldeep’s 2/24 and Jasprit Bumrah’s economical 1/29 provided a crucial eight-over spell, which played a massive role in India’s 24-run win. This victory has secured India’s spot in the semifinals.