Yadav's Magical Delivery Dismisses Starc
Kuldeep Yadav marked his return to the Indian ODI squad with a sensational delivery that bamboozled Australian tailender Mitchell Starc in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground today. The dismissal, a classic left-arm wrist-spinner's googly, sent Starc's off-stump cartwheeling and ignited celebrations in the Indian camp.
After India lost the first two ODIs, fans and critics questioned benching a "wicket-taking spinner" like Yadav while Aussie spinner Adam Zampa picked up 4 wickets.
The dismissal occurred in the 39th over of the Australian innings, with the hosts struggling at 201 for 6. Starc, who came in to accelerate the scoring, had barely settled at the crease when Yadav produced the moment of magic. The delivery pitched on a good length, appearing to be the conventional leg-spinner turning away from the right-hander. However, it gripped, held its line, and then sharply spun back in, completely deceiving Starc. The ball crashed into the off-stump, leaving Starc stunned and the crowd in awe.
The Anatomy of a Wicket
Yadav's delivery was a testament to his skill and control over his craft. The googly, a deceptive weapon in a wrist-spinner's arsenal, is bowled with a similar action to the leg-break but spins in the opposite direction. This makes it difficult for batsmen to pick, especially when bowled with accuracy and guile, as Starc experienced.
The dismissal was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it was Yadav's first wicket of the match, relieving some of the pressure. He was earlier deprived of a wicket when Prasidh Krishna dropped a catch at long-on. Secondly, it broke a potentially dangerous partnership and further dented Australia's hopes of setting a competitive total. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it was a significant moment of comeback for Yadav himself.
Yadav's Comeback
Yadav's recent form has been inconsistent, leading to him being in and out of the team. However, on a potentially spin-friendly SCG pitch, he was brought back into the squad for this crucial third ODI. The pressure was on him to perform, and he responded with a moment of brilliance that showcased his immense talent.
India eventually bowled Australia out for 236, with Harshit Rana taking four wickets. Besides Yadav and Rana, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Mohammed Siraj all chipped in with a wicket each. At the time of writing, India has a narrow advantage heading into the second innings.
Fan Reactions
The video of Yadav's dismissal of Starc quickly went viral on social media, with fans and experts praising the delivery and his return to form. Many lauded his skill and ability to deceive the batsman with his variations.
