World Cup 2023: Kuldeep remains coy on choosing between Buttler and Babar dismissals, says both 'were very good'

India’s clinical bowling performance against England on Sunday was every bit a collective effort from pacers and spinners alike even if the former got the lions’ share of wickets.

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Among the key moments from India’s 100-run victory over England in their ICC World Cup match in Lucknow was left-arm spinner and Uttar Pradesh native Kuldeep Yadav cleaning up opposition skipper Jos Buttler with a peach of a delivery.

Kuldeep invited Buttler into going for a punch after pitching the ball well outside off, only for it to turn viciously and clip the top of off and middle, sending the English skipper back to the hut for 10. England lost their fifth wicket with just 52 on board and things would only go downhill from that point.

The delivery was later compared with his magic ball to Babar Azam in the 2019 World Cup encounter against Pakistan in Manchester. The current Pakistan captain was similarly attempting to play on the backfoot, only for the ball to snake through the gap between bat and pad and crash into the stumps.

Read | Top moments from India vs England World Cup match in Lucknow

Kuldeep however, refused to choose a favourite between the two deliveries when quizzed on the same after India’s victory over England at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium.

“I would say both balls were very good. They were same balls in my view. There was no change. Quality is important and both were quality batters. The team also won. It was also special to play in front a big crowd like that,” said Kuldeep in the post-match press conference.

Kuldeep also heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami for setting things up nicely for the spinners with a four-wicket burst inside the powerplay. Both Bumrah and Shami struck in successive deliveries — while the former got rid of Dawid Malan and Joe Root, Shami removed Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.

“Shami and Bumrah bowled very well in the power play. My plan was just to bowl on a good length. There was spin and I used the crease well,” added Kuldeep.

Read | Shami shows he’s more than just a replacement with fiery spell in Lucknow

The left-arm wrist spinner additionally felt 230 was a decent enough total for the bowlers to defend on what was a two-paced Ekana wicket that was difficult to bat on, and credit his skipper Rohit Sharma for guiding them to a respectable total.

Rohit pulled India out of trouble with a fighting 87, forming important partnerships with KL Rahul (39) and Suryakumar Yadav (49) along the way after the Men in Blue had lost three wickets with just 40 on the board.

“It is good if batting comes first. It is even better if the total is good, then it is more fun to bowl under lights. 230 was a decent score on this wicket. The way Rohit bhai batted it helped us put a respectable total,” added Kuldeep.