- By Manik Sharma
- Wed, 13 Sep 2023 01:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ace India spinner Kuldeep Yadav reached a historic milestone by claiming 150 ODI wickets in just 88 matches. This achievement etched his name in the history books as he became the fastest Indian spinner to reach this remarkable feat.
He took his 150th wicket against Sri Lanka in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The record was previously held by the legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble.
He reached the 150 ODI wickets milestone in 106 matches. Overall, Kuldeep is now the second-fastest Indian overall to reach this milestone, following pacer Mohammed Shami, who achieved the feat in just 80 matches.
In the Asia Cup Super Four match against Sri Lanka, Kuldeep displayed a masterful performance, taking four crucial wickets. His performance helped India beat Sri Lanka by a comprehensive margin of 41 runs.
Kuldeep's bowling average of 25.64 and best bowling figures of 6/25 against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in 2018 has been the highlight of his record-breaking journey. He has match-winning figures of seven four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls in ODIs to his name.
On a global scale, Kuldeep's achievement placed him as the fourth-fastest spinner ever to claim 150 ODI wickets. He joined the elite company of Ajantha Mendis (78), Rashid Khan (80), and Saqlain Mushtaq (84).
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The Chinaman is the leading wicket-taker in the Asia Cup 2023, with an impressive tally of nine wickets in just four matches. His standout performance includes a five-wicket haul against arch-rivals Pakistan.
While India's batting struggled in the match, with sporadic contributions from skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, it was Kuldeep's exceptional bowling that sealed the victory for India. He played a pivotal role in reducing Sri Lanka to 172, securing India's place in the final. Dunith Wellalage, who shone with both bat and ball, was awarded the 'Player of the Match' accolade.
The final will be played on September 17 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.