India's captain, Rohit Sharma, commended Kuldeep Yadav for his exceptional performance in India's Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours victory over Sri Lanka on September 12. Sharma acknowledged the dedication and hard work that Kuldeep had put in during his time away from the game, which ultimately paid off as the left-arm wrist-spinner rose to the top of the wicket-takers list in the tournament, claiming 9 wickets over the past two days.
In the match against Sri Lanka, Kuldeep Yadav emerged as India's star bowler, securing 4 crucial wickets. His outstanding performance played a pivotal role in India's successful defense of their target of 213 runs in a low-scoring contest held at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, securing their place in the final.
Kuldeep's impressive form in the Super Fours stage followed his remarkable 5-wicket haul in India's 228-run victory over Pakistan in a match that extended from Sunday to Monday due to adverse weather conditions in Colombo.
Despite going wicketless against Nepal in the group stage after delivering 10 overs, Kuldeep Yadav showcased sensational form during the Super Fours, collecting 9 wickets in just 2 matches.
The left-arm spinner, who had been India's key spinner at the 2019 World Cup, faced challenges with injuries and lost his rhythm in the subsequent two years. He managed to play only 9 matches in 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, Kuldeep made a strong comeback in 2022, securing 12 wickets in 8 matches.
Kuldeep's resurgence in form during 2023 earned him a place as India's first-choice spinner in both the World Cup and Asia Cup squads, with Yuzvendra Chahal being omitted from the squads.
In 2023, Kuldeep has taken 31 wickets in 15 matches, setting a promising precedent ahead of the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma also viewed the hard-fought victory on a challenging pitch in Colombo as a valuable test for India in preparation for the upcoming final and the World Cup.
Facing some difficulty against spin, especially against Sri Lanka's 20-year-old bowler Dunith Wellalage, who secured 5 wickets, and part-timer Charith Asalanka, who chipped in with 4 wickets, India encountered a stern challenge. Rohit top-scored with 53, but the rest of the top order struggled. However, India managed to surpass the 200-run mark, thanks to a crucial 63-run partnership for the 4th wicket between KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan.
Rohit Sharma expressed his satisfaction with the challenging conditions, stating that it was essential for the team to play on such pitches to gauge their performance and capabilities. He emphasized the value of experiencing pressure situations and challenging pitches ahead of major tournaments.
India's next encounter is against Bangladesh in the final Super Fours match on Friday, leading up to the grand finals of the Asia Cup 2023, scheduled for Sunday in Colombo.
