SA vs IND 2023: South African pitches are suiting spinners in ongoing tour, says Kuldeep Yadav after picking five wickets

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav said South African pitches are suiting spinners in the ongoing tour. There was assistance for the spinners in India’s first innings of the second T20I but the visitors’ spinners could not get much help because of the rain intervention.

However, the pitch was slightly on the low side at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Thursday. Keshav Maharaj bagged two wickets in his fine spell whereas Kuldeep Yadav returned with career-best T20I figures of 5-17 in the third game to help India win by 106 runs.

Thus, Yadav was able to celebrate his 29th birthday in style. Yadav accounted for David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Willaims in his fine spell.

Furthermore, Ravindra Jadeja registered figures of 2-25 in the three overs he bowled as he dismissed Aiden Markram and Andile Phehlukwayo.

“It turned out to be a special day. I have never thought about taking five wickets. I just wanted the team to win which is more important,” Kuldeep said as quoted by PTI.

“I was concerned about my bowling because I was playing after sometime, so wanted to get my rhythm. It was perfect today. The ball was coming out well from the hand and the conditions too suited the spinners a bit.” Kuldeep returned with figures of 5/17 from 2.5 overs as India beat South Africa by 106 runs to help India finish the three-match T20 series tied at 1-1.

“To be very honest, the wickets are very good for the spinners. The good thing about these wickets are that the ball comes very quickly after pitching. So sometimes, you have to vary your variations and if you get it right then it is very difficult to pick,” he added.

Kuldeep also became the second Indian bowler after Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take two five-wicket hauls in T20Is. Yadav also recorded the best bowling figures by a bowler on his birthday in T20Is.

Yadav will look to continue the good show in ODIs against South Africa. The first ODI will be played at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Sunday.