Kuldeep Yadav Wins Big At ESPNCricinfo Awards 2018

Kuldeep Yadav was one of India’s most impressive performers last year. The chinaman spinner helped India win the ODI and the T20I series in South Africa, the T20I series in England as well as the Asia Cup. One of the his best performances came during the tour of England where he picked a five-wicket haul in one T20I and a six-wicket haul in one ODI. Well those performances has now helped the left-arm spinner win a couple of big awards in the ESPNCricinfo Awards 2018. Kuldeep Yadav was amazing for India on the 2018 tour of England in the limited overs series and that’s where he won his awards.

The first award he won was for the best ODI bowling performance of the year for his 6/25 against England at the Nottingham. Asked to bat first, England were off to a good start. Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy added 71 runs in ten overs. However, the game turned on its head once Virat  Kohli introduced Kuldeep in the attack.

He dismissed Roy on the very second ball of his first over. The tweaker then went on dismiss Bairstow, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and David Willey to finish with career-best figures of six for 25.

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Kuldeep Yadav Wins Big At ESPNCricinfo Awards 2018
Credits: Getty

As a result, England were all out for just 268. In reply, India romped home without appearing to break a sweat thanks to Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 137 and a 75-run knock by Kohli.

Kuldeep pipped Afghanistan’s Adil Rashid (3/27 vs India) and New Zealand’s Trent Boult (5/17 vs Pakistan) to the award.

The India star also won the award for the best T20I bowling performance of the year for his spell of 5 for 27 against England. Asked to bat first, England were comfortably placed at 95 for one in the 12th over before Kuldeep tore them apart.

In his second over, he ended Alex Hales’ (eight off 18) painful stay at the crease. But it was Kuldeep’s following over that really did the damage. Eoin Morgan (7) holed out to the first ball and after Buttler took a single, Jonny Bairstow (0) and Joe Root (0) were both wholly deceived. Kuldeep went on to complete his maiden five-wicket haul by taking the huge wicket of Jos Buttler.

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