Kuldeep To The Fore

After a long lay-off, spinner back at his best on slowish Dubai surfaces

- GOMESH S @Chennai

When Kuldeep Yadav finished with the figures of 1/53 during the first ODI between India and England in Nagpur earlier this month, it seemed like the spinner was still rusty.

The left-arm wrist spinner had been out of action for months due to chronic left groin issue and was ruled out on the entire India tour of Australia. Understandably, he was still getting into rhythm. In the 56 deliveries he bowled during the match, the lone wicket came off the last delivery, Saqib Mahmood tried to jump out of the crease and missed the googly. Rarely during the innings did he look like he was troubling the England batters while defending. That was then. Cut to Sunday, Kuldeep was in Dubai, bowling against Pakistan during the Champions Trophy tie. He had sent down five overs between nine and 40 and given away 23 runs. Unlike the England series at home, the ball was coming out of his hand nicer, he was able to impart drift and loop better and keep Pakistan batters in check.