Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill has heaped praise on the veteran Indian wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for his player of the match performance in the team’s eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum on Sunday, September 27.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Gill showered praise on Kuldeep Yadav, who scalped a four-wicket haul, conceding only 40 runs in his 10-over spell. He had sent John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope and Jewel Andrew back to the pavilion.
“Someone like him (Kuldeep), especially in the middle overs, if he’s bowling well, he’s a wicket-taker for us and he’s proved over again and again, and today as well. We were a bit on the back foot, with their opening partnership and how their top order was batting, but he got us back in the game, got us crucial wickets in the game, and at one point it looked like maybe they’ll get 340-350, but from there to restrict them to 300 was a tremendous effort from us,” he added.
Further, Gill hailed the talismanic Indian batter Virat Kohli, who scored an impressive unbeaten 139-run knock off 88 balls with 10 fours and nine sixes to steer Team India to an eight-wicket win.
“He’s batting superbly, and I think he’s enjoying the game a lot more, playing with freedom and enjoying the game. And I think those are the effects of his batting. I mean, he always had the game, he always had the ability to clear the boundary at will, and I think he’s doing that right now. Someone like him who’s won so many matches for the country, who’s done it over and over again, you just let him be, and you just want him to play however he feels like on the day, because when he plays well, he can win matches for you,” he concluded.
The action now shifts to the second ODI in Guwahati, on Wednesday, September 30.
