'Jasprit and Siraj..' - Kuldeep Yadav Makes Big Statement On Pace Duo Before IND vs NZ
Kuldeep Yadav acknowledged the contribution of pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in his success with the old ball and India's tremendous start to the ICC World Cup 2023. The experienced wristspinner says Indian tweakers have relished the foundation laid at the top by the threatening Bumrah and Siraj pairing against the opposition.
While ace speedster Bumrah has been creating inroads with the new-ball, Siraj has overcome his initial struggles to produce quality bursts in his second spell. The edgy right-arm quick has delivered five critical breakthroughs with the old-ball, enjoying the pressure created by his senior pro, who is the leading Indian wicket-taker with 10 scalps in four innings.
Kuldeep, who is third on the list with six wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.10 while averaging 27.33, also reckons his impact on India's fortunes has partly to do with the genius of Bumrah and Siraj's ability to bounce back hard.
Kuldeep Raves Over Bumrah-Siraj Duo
"It's very important to start off very well with the first Powerplay. Jasprit and Siraj have done really well," Kuldeep told the ICC after Bumrah (2/41) and Siraj (2/60) provided critical breakthroughs in India's seven-wicket triumph against Bangladesh.
"Not just giving us wickets, but probably just containing the runs as well (for) when me and Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) come to bowl. We've always got one or two wickets, only today (against Bangladesh) we felt that they got a very good start."
Kuldeep also appreciated the role played by his senior spin partner Ravindra Jadeja in the World Cup campaign so far. Jadeja has outbowled his younger teammate so far with seven scalps at an average of 20.28 while going for an economy rate of only 3.75.
It was Jadeja, who tightened the screws on the rampaging Bangladeshi batters after their openers raced along to 93/0 with a spell of 2/38 in 10 overs before Kuldeep joined in the party and ended with figures of 1/47 at his end.
"We're just working on the length and we're keeping it very simple, me and Jaddu bhai," Kuldeep said. "We're getting good wickets as well, but it's very important to keep it very simple and just maintain that in every game, that's very important."
"If you pick an early wicket in the middle overs, definitely it gives you confidence and it just controls the run rate as well," he added.
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