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Ayushi Singh

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Kuldeep Yadav (Photo: BCCI)

India vs New Zealand: Kuldeep Yadav stuns with crucial breakthroughs

Kuldeep Yadav (Photo: BCCI)

Just as another left-handed opener began to look threatening for India in yet another ICC final, Kuldeep Yadav emerged from the shadows. The in-form Rachin Ravindra launched his onslaught early in the opening innings of the India vs New Zealand final. After losing yet another toss, India were put to bowl first in the ICC Champions Trophy final by Mitchell Santner. Eager to justify his captain's decision, Ravindra punished Hardik Pandya for 16 runs in the fourth over of the game. Moreover, multiple lifelines made Ravindra look invincible for a moment in Dubai, until Kuldeep Yadav struck timber with the very first delivery of his spell.

Kuldeep Yadav removed the in-form due of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson 

India remained wary of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in the final, with the duo coming off a 164-run partnership in the semi-final against South Africa. Ravindra swiftly launched an onslaught that justified India’s apprehension. The opener read the pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya well, executing some eye-catching shots over the boundary. Ravindra's early heroics led to Rohit Sharma launching Varun Chakravarthy early into the attack. 

The move looked desperate but bore fruit as the mystery spinner drew the first blood by dismissing Will Young in an LBW.However, Ravindra remained a threat, narrowly escaping multiple dismissal chances. The opener was dropped twice in quick succession, first on 28 by Mohammed Shami off his own bowling and then on 29, when Shreyas Iyer misjudged a catch at square leg after Ravindra attempted a slog off Varun Chakravarthy.

However, just as it started to look bleak for India, Kuldeep Yadav struck a decisive blow. Rohit Sharma introduced Kuldeep into the attack in the 11th over, and the wrist-spinner made an immediate impact. With his first ball, he completely deceived the in-form Ravindra, who was batting on 37. The delivery, which pitched outside off, jagged back in sharply as Ravindra, attempting a backfoot drive through the covers, found himself undone. The ball thudded onto his pads before rattling into the stumps, cutting short his knock of 37 off 29 balls, which featured four boundaries and a towering six.

Just an over later, Williamson also perished, misjudging a classic leg-spinner that held up slightly, causing him to mistime his shot and offer a simple return catch to Kuldeep. The Kiwi captain, known for his finesse against spin, failed to settle, managing just 11 off 13 balls before his attempted shot resulted in a simple catch back to the bowler. New Zealand's fear of India's spin quartet turned true as they were reduced to 75 for 3 by the web spun by Kuldeep and Chakravarthy.

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