On Wednesday, the Indian chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav became the first India cricketer to scalp second ODI hat-tricks and joined the elite list which includes the legendary fast bowler, Wasim Akram. He achieved the feat during the second ODI of the three-match against the West Indies in Vizag.
Kuldeep had claimed his first ODI hat-trick against Australia in Kolkata in 2017, dismissed Shai Hope, Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph in the last three deliveries of the 33rd over to achieve the feat. Talking about the same after the same, he said, “It has been a perfect day for me, taking a second hat-trick in ODIs. Still can’t find words to describe the feeling. It has been tough for me in the last 4-5 months. I have worked hard and been bowling well, it was a very satisfying performance.”
HAT-TRICK for @imkuldeep18! 🙌
First Indian Bowler to have two ODI hat-tricks! pic.twitter.com/cf6100cU1t— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2019
Former Pakistan captain Akram, ex-Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas, and New Zealand’s Trent Boult have two hat-tricks to their name in ODIs.
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Chetan Sharma, Kapil Dev, and Mohammed Shami are the other Indians to have claimed just one ODI hat-trick. Veteran Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga is the only bowler in the history of the game to take three ODI hat-tricks, including two in the World Cup.
Kuldeep achieved the feat in his eighth over with skipper Virat Kohli starting the proceedings with a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket, which sent opener Hope (78) back to the pavilion. Holder was next in line as he was deceived in flight and Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails in time. Alzarri then failed to pick up a wrong’un and was caught by Kedar Jadhav as his teammates celebrated.
Kuldeep's hat-trick..!!https://t.co/MI9ijkhEzu
— Cricket Videos (@CricketVideos15) December 18, 2019
Coincidentally, Kuldeep’s first ODI hat-trick came also came in the 33rd over against Australian in 2017 at the Eden Gardens. Batting first, India scored a massive 387 for 5 and then returned to dismiss the visitors for 280 in 43.3 overs to register a comfortable 107-run win.
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Kuldeep said he tried to vary the pace as he said, “There was not a lot of turn on offer but we had 380 runs and we knew they would come hard. I was just varying my pace. I was a bit confused as to which one to bowl; whether to bowl the chinaman or wrong ‘un, I went for the wrong ‘un and put an extra fielder at slip (on the hat-trick ball).”
