Bowling in the dew was a big problem, admitted India spinner Kuldeep Yadav, as the thrilling second ODI against the Windies ended in a tie, here.
India, on Wednesday, put up 321 for six after opting to bat, with Virat Kohli (157) surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest player to reach 10,000 runs in One-Day Internationals.
West Indies, then, rode Shai Hope’s unbeaten century and Shimron Hetmyer’s 64-ball 94 to level the scores at the YSR ACA-VDCA Stadium.
READ: Shai Hope: Expected a wide yorker from Umesh
“It was very difficult to bowl in the dew, the square was quick and there the got ball wet. I was having difficulty gripping the ball. But, you have to consider these situations, we need to practice a lot,” Kuldeep told reporters at the post-match press conference.
The chinaman bowler was India’s most successful, returning with figures of three for 67. He said that skipper Kohli told him to just bowl in the good areas and contain the runs.
Kuldeep, who was not played in the first ODI, defended seamers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, who were wayward in both the matches.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli fastest to 10,000 ODI runs
“Considering the situation they were in at a point, when they (West Indies) were cruising, we are happy as a bowling unit. With the dew also there, I think we did a good job.”
Asked about the move to bat first, risking the dew factor to avoid more turn in the second innings, Kuldeep said that India expected the wicket to slow down in the second innings.
The spinner lavished praise on Hetmyer, who carried on from where he left in the first game. “Hetmyer is playing brilliantly, it was very difficult to bowl to him. I was trying to contain him, was really on to him and trying to get him out. He was not comfortable against me, but a couple of sixes he hit changed the course,” Kuldeep said.
The bowler dismissed Hetmyer, who smashed a 78-ball 106 in the series opener, three times in the preceding two-match Test series.
Comments
SHARE