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Kuldeep Yadav wins India’s dressing room impact player of the series vs South Africa

Kaushik Kashyap

Kuldeep Yadav. [Source - BCCI/x]Kuldeep Yadav. [Source - BCCI/x]

India’s spin maestro Kuldeep Yadav was the unsung hero of the recently concluded three-match ODI series against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. While Virat Kohli grabbed the headlines with his battin heroics, it was Kuldeep’s guile and timely breakthroughs that turned the tide in India’s favor multiple times in a high-scoring series, earning him the dressing room’s “Impact Player of the Series” nod.

Kuldeep Yadav: The series’ silent game-changer vs South Africa

Kuldeep’s influence was evident right from the first ODI in Ranchi, where South Africa looked unstoppable in their chase. With Marco Jansen punishing the bowlers and India battling under challenging dew-affected conditions, Kuldeep struck crucially, dismissing Jansen and ending with figures of 4 for 68, helping India defend their total in a nail-biting encounter.

The third ODI saw Kuldeep at his masterful best. After Quinton de Kock’s century, South Africa appeared on course for a massive score, with Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch ready to accelerate. Kuldeep, however, had other plans.

He claimed all three key wickets cheaply, finishing with a match-winning 4 for 41 in his ten overs, restricting South Africa to 270 instead of a daunting 350-plus which once looked in touching distance. His second spell proved decisive, setting up India’s comfortable chase, powered by a commanding century from Yashasvi Jaiswal.

While Virat Kohli rightly earned the official “Player of the Series” for his consistent batting heroics throughout the three matches, Kuldeep received immense appreciation within the dressing room for his impact on both matches.

“Nothing much to say from my side. But congrats to Virat bhai and Jaisu [Jaiswal]. He played an unbelievable innings today. Yeah, let's enjoy this,” Kuldeep said after receiving the medal.

A beautiful video posted by BCCI offered fans a glimpse of the celebrations and the special recognition Kuldeep received from his teammates, with joyous handshakes, pats on the back, and playful gestures reflecting his importance in India’s series victory.