“Moving pawns while the opposition moves in circles” – Fans hail Kuldeep Yadav for game-changing four-wicket spell in IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI

Team India spinner Kuldeep Yadav delivered a crucial final spell in the third and deciding ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam on December 6. The 30-year-old went wicketless in his first five overs, conceding 27 runs.

However, he returned in the 37th over with the Proteas well-set for a massive total at 223/5. Mixing guile with courage, Kuldeep lured both set batters, Dewald Brevis and Marco Jansen, into big shots and dismissed them in the 39th over.

The twin strikes helped India spark a Proteas collapse, with Kuldeep continuing to be the chief wrecker. The veteran spinner picked up a wicket each in both his final two overs, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/41 in 10 overs.

Fans on X praised Kuldeep Yadav for his pivotal spell when the game was in the balance with the following reactions:

Fans continued praising Kuldeep for his heroics, with one saying:

“He is absolutely running riot in Vizag! The way he trapped Brevis and Jansen in one over was PURE GOLD. India is smelling the trophy now!”

“Hope KULDEEP YADAV gets his FREQUENT PLACE in INDIAN CRICKETING SQUAD…Because the day he starts spin like SHANE WARNE…..He is another KNIFE for the BATTERS,” a fan posted.

“Kuldeep yadav is a priceless gem for India,” said a fan.

“It was actually gripping a bit” – Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav admitted that the Visakhapatnam track for the third ODI gripped in the latter half of the innings. Despite bowling under dewy conditions in the opening two ODIs, the champion spinner bagged five wickets, including four in India’s win in the series opener.

Talking to the broadcasters during the innings break, Kuldeep said (via Cricbuzz):

“We started very well. Arshdeep and Harshit started well, they kept a tight line in the first 7-8 overs and then the spinners came, it was actually gripping a bit. We were trying to mix the pace. Bowling with the dry ball is a luxury. Because of the rule change, there’s only one ball after 34 overs, the ball was holding and it wasn’t easy to score runs. I mixed it up with the variations, bowling scrambled seam, leg-spin, googly, flipper, just trying to vary the variations.”

Kuldeep’s heroics helped India bowl the Proteas out for an underwhelming total of 270 in the 48th over. With the series level at 1-1, the winner of the ongoing clash will capture the series trophy.