"Smashing the team which ruined his career, poetic justice!" - Fans erupt as Kuldeep Yadav destroys KKR in IPL 2022
Destiny couldn't have written the script better for Kuldeep Yadav. He returned to haunt his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and guide the Delhi Capitals (DC) to a 44-run win on Sunday.
Kuldeep was taken to the cleaners in his first two overs, but the left-arm wrist-spinner proved why he is such a valuable wicket-taker as he ended up with figures of 4/35. The 27-year-old derailed the KKR chase just when it looked like the latter were on track for an explosive finish.
Fans on Twitter hailed Kuldeep Yadav for the sensational season that he is having with DC. He has so far picked up 10 wickets in just four games and is one of the contenders to win the IPL Purple Cap.
Some fans also trolled KKR for frequently benching a match-winner of Kuldeep Yadav's stature in his last two seasons with the franchise.
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Here are some of the reactions:
Happiness on the face of Kuldeep Yadav after taking a four-fer and winning the game. https://t.co/pD1nDGji2Y
Kuldeep letting his ball do the talking.
#KKRvDC
Show us your "Ya Venky, now talk na" t-shirt, Kuldeep.
Kuldeep with a captain who is backing him. 🔥 https://t.co/t553Wjcn4L
The way Kuldeep celebrated it looks wanted to do this against KKR for long... Happy for him : https://t.co/4SpewXnBY3
12.3: 'Maarne de, time leke khel!'
12.4: Gets hit for a six
12.5: Gets the wicket
Can't help but think how positive an influence Rishabh Pant from behind the stumps has been for Kuldeep Yadav this season. The kind of captain, the kind of voice he needed to hear.
#KKRvsDC https://t.co/a0ieqbwuKY
Kuldeep demolishing KKR https://t.co/Bh4MEnNPRq
Kuldeep Yadav the new Purple Cap Holder.
What a way to get purple Cap in front of your EX.😊😂
#KKR #DelhiCapitals #KKRvsDC
Kuldeep Yadav Game changer @imkuldeep18 what a spell.. 💥💥💥💥 4 wickets 👏
Kris Srikkanth (on Star Sports Tamil): KKR destroyed Kuldeep and sent him into depression mode. Today, with how he has performed, we have evidence that there is God.
Kuldeep yadav with soul transfer of Shane Warne
Tell the world KULDEEP IS BACK
Kuldeep Yadav! Well that’s a performance. 👏🏼 Carnage. #KKRvDC
Kuldeep Yadav Redemption Season
So good to see Kuldeep happy, man. It means so much to him.
Kuldeep Yadav running through KKR.
#PoeticJustice #KKRvsDC https://t.co/V0Tn8PaFVm
Kuldeep performing against a team that benched him for a complete season.
What a feeling!! #DCvKKR
Only two players have won two Player Of The Match Awards in this IPL 2022 so far:-
•Umesh Yadav.
•Kuldeep Yadav.
Kuldeep 🔥😍 https://t.co/ueFtOW7WUF
Kuldeep Yadav in IPL 2022:
3/18 Vs MI.
1/32 Vs GT.
2/31 Vs LSG (3.4 overs).
4/35 Vs KKR.
- Absolute scintillating stuff by Kuldeep, a comeback to mark for him. Excellent stuff so far.
Blowing off the dust from the lock, and reopening Kuldeep FC.
Kuldeep Yadav smashing the team which ruined 2 years of his career. Poetic JUSTICE. https://t.co/rAqkIMlAeq
Apart from those talented first timers in this ipl, the story for me is Kuldeep Yadav’s return. He is really good with his pace and spin variations. #DelhiCapitals
this match meant a lot to Kuldeep. #KKRvsDC https://t.co/CEXwhbS7B8
Kuldeep Yadav ended KKR's hopes of completing record chase
KKR's highest successful chase in IPL history was 206 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019. This meant that Shreyas Iyer and his men had to break their record to get the two points against the Capitals.
The chase didn't begin well for them, as Ajinkya Rahane once again perished early and Venkatesh Iyer couldn't capitalize on the start he got. However, former DC skipper Shreyas Iyer was keen on proving a point against the franchise that let him go.
Both Shreyas and Nitish Rana dug deep and found boundaries at regular intervals, keeping KKR in the chase. Just when it looked like the KKR skipper would take the game away from DC, Kuldeep struck by deceiving Shreyas in the air.
KKR soon lost the wicket of Sam Billings, who looked in good touch. But with Andre Russell and the dangerous Pat Cummins still at the crease, anything was possible. Rishabh Pant brought Kuldeep Yadav back into the attack and that proved to be a match-defining moment.
In just a span of four deliveries in the 16th over, Kuldeep dismissed Cummins, Sunil Narine and Umesh Yadav and broke the back of KKR's chase. Russell was left with too much to do as KKR were bowled out for 171.