28 July,2023 09:34 AM IST | Barbados | mid-day online correspondent
Kuldeep Yadav (Pic: AFP)
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, along with Ravindra Jadeja, masterminded the rout of an abject West Indies team as India romped to a five-wicket win with more than 27 overs to spare in the opening ODI of a three-match series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.
Beaten 1-0 in the preceding two-Test series, the home team were brushed aside for just 114 off 23 overs after being put in as they appeared completely at sea in trying to cope especially with variations offered by Yadav's wrist-spin.
Brought on as the sixth bowler, Yadav triggered the capitulation which saw the last seven wickets cascading for 26 runs, finishing with the outstanding figures of four for six off three overs.
"I've been working on my rhythm over the last two years. My rhythm wasn't very well last year but now it's coming out very well," said man-of-the-match Yadav. "With the spin and drift it's very difficult for the batters to read, especially now with an increase in pace."
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In the recent past, Yadav has been a bit lucky when it comes to the team selection as he has been dropped despite putting up some of his finest perfomances for India. In December last year, the chinaman was dropped from the second Test against Bangladesh after taking eight wickets, including a fifer and scoring a crucial 40 in the first innings.
"Most of the times, when I don't get to play it is because of the situation and combination. It is a normal thing now, I have been playing cricket for so many years, it has been more than six years now. These things are normal," he said.
The West Indies, meanwhile, folded for their second-lowest ODI total against India and joint-third lowest ODI total at home.
India are counting down to the hosting of the ODI World Cup in just over two months' time while this latest West Indies batting display will only deepen the gloom in the Caribbean after the team failed to advance to the World Cup following a disastrous qualifying campaign in Zimbabwe in June.
(With agency inputs)
