Follow UsBowling under lights, with not too many runs on the board and the dew effect in full flow - India’s formidable bowling attack faced their toughest challenge in the 2023 World Cup against England in Lucknow on Sunday (October 30). However, that didn’t stop Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja from making their presence felt.
India had to bat first for the first time in the ongoing event and could only manage 229/9 in their 50 overs. The surface was offering enough help to the bowlers but there was enough dew to make things difficult for Bumrah and Co. in the second innings.
England openers put on 30 runs inside five overs before Bumrah dismissed Dawid Malan and Joe Root on back-to-back deliveries and then it didn’t take much time for the Indian bowlers to take complete control of the game. Shami took four, while Kuldeep got the better of Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone.
The left-arm wristspinner, who is having an outstanding World Cup, said he has played enough cricket under lights this year to know what needs to be done and his numbers suggest the same. While bowling second in 2023, Kuldeep has scalped 21 wickets in nine innings at an average of 13.3. His average in the first innings is 23.2
“This full year, I have played one-day matches and bowled at night. I have played in Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. I have always been prepared. I have played more one-day cricket this year. There is no big change in bowling at night,” said Kuldeep after India’s sixth consecutive win.
“I mean, there is only one factor of dew. As a bowler, you don't want to bowl in dew because it's easier to bat, but I don't have a problem with bowling at night or during the day. If your batsmen score well, 300 plus, then bowling becomes a little easier.
“But yes, 100% this has been because of the preparation for the whole year and how we played back-to-back bilateral series this year, our preparation for the World Cup, so there is no drastic change in bowling at night or in the day.
“I was hoping that if we get two wickets in powerplay, we will be in the game. My job was simple, to bowl at a good length. It was spinning. I used the crease well. The result was good.”
In the absence of Hardik Pandya, India have been playing five frontline bowlers for the last two games. Talking about the combination and clicking as an entire unit, Kuldeep said: “I focus on my bowling. I don't think much about the rest. I'm sure that all the members of the team, whether fast bowlers or spinners, are focusing on their performance.
“How we can do well collectively - I'm sure that all the fast bowlers are bowling in partnership, even the spinners. When you bowl, you think about how you can bowl well and get a wicket. We have five quality bowlers. Sometimes you might need a sixth bowler, like in Dharamshala, it was a high-scoring game. But right now, it's going well. We haven't had any issues in the last two matches.”
Kuldeep’s delivery to Buttler was the major highlight of the second innings. The 28-year-old bowled it flat and outside off and the England skipper went for the cut, only to find out the ball would turn in sharply and shatter the stumps. Many people even compared this delivery to the one on which Kuldeep got the wicket of Babar Azam in the 2019 World Cup.
“Both the balls were good. I think both the balls were the same. There were no changes. The quality is important, and the quality of the players is also very important. They were very important wickets. And the team won – that is more important.”
Talking about the conditions on offer, the local lad said: “I know my hometown well and the conditions very well. The wicket spins and when you bowl on the seam, it spins better. I was trying to bowl the ball on a good length and use the crease well.
“100% it was a good wicket. It was challenging. 50-over cricket is all about skill and if you are set then batting is easy. At night the ball was seaming well, and if you have quality seamers then you are always in the game and 100% this was a perfect wicket for one-day cricket.”
Kuldeep and Bumrah were on song in the second innings but they also made handy contributions in the first innings. The two put on 21 runs for the ninth wicket and got India close to that 230-run mark.
“I am working hard on my batting, I am contributing to the team, I contribute 10-15 runs, it helps the team. The last 25-odd run partnership helped us to reach a good target of 230. I felt that we could defend it. It's not like I'm only batting in matches. I'm also working on my batting in practice.”
England have now lost five of their six encounters and are out of the semi-final race. “They have a very good team, they have been playing good cricket. They have changed cricket a lot and every time everything doesn’t go in your favour. Sometimes you face bad times, I am sure they are thinking the same.
“The English fan's expectations for the performance have not been met. Whichever team is playing, they are playing their best cricket and they want to defeat big teams. The biggest motivation for every team is that England is a big team. They were the last World Cup champions. So, the motivation is always high.”