'He is the same player who cried in IPL match' - Aakash Chopra lauds Kuldeep Yadav's consistent run after going through rough patch

In a must-win game at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, India's Kuldeep Yadav delivered a match-winning spell against Australia, leading his team to a crucial 24-run victory. The match in St Lucia saw India post a formidable 205 runs, thanks to captain Rohit Sharma's blistering 92 off 41 balls. 

Australia's chase, despite a strong start from Travis Head (76 off 43), faltered in the face of India's stellar bowling attack. The defeat virtually eliminated Australia from the marquee event.

Yadav's performance stood out in India's bowling effort. The left-arm wrist-spinner conceded just 24 runs in his four overs while claiming the crucial wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. This spell was pivotal in restricting Australia to 181/7.

Reflecting on Yadav's journey, cricketer-turned commentator Aakash Chopra opened up about how Yadav who was sitting on the bench for almost a year and was not getting a chance is now delivering match-winning performances.

"Kuldeep Yadav - there are many stories. Remember, he is the same player who cried in an IPL match. This is the same Kuldeep Yadav who sat on the bench for an entire year and was dropped in every format," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

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The rise and rise of Kuldeep Yadav: Aakash Chopra

He even spoke about Kuldeep's performances in the recent Test series against England and last year's ODI World Cup at home. He lauded the chinaman for his return and the crucial wickets he took in the game against Australia.

"However, if you see Kuldeep Yadav now, you can see the entire Test series against England, the performance in the entire ODI World Cup, and the last match or this one, he has been absolutely outstanding. He bowled four overs here and conceded only 24 runs and picked up two wickets, and who were the two victims - were Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. What a player. The rise and rise of Kuldeep Yadav," Chopra added.

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The commentator also highlighted the potent combination of Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah in India's bowling attack. Bumrah's economical spell (1/29) complemented Yadav's wicket-taking abilities, forming a formidable eight-over bank for the team.

"What a bowler Bumrah is. Just think about it, he did concede 15 runs in the first two overs, but he gave only 29 runs in four overs. Kuldeep Yadav gave only 24 runs in his four overs. What a bowling lineup - a bank of eight overs with at least four wickets. They got three in this match for sure," he concluded.