Kuldeep Yadav recollects 'special' Babar Azam scalp during 2019 World Cup

Indian left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, in a live chat with Sports Tak, opened up about his magical delivery to dismiss Pakistan’s top-order batsman Babar Azam, for 48, during the 2019 ICC World Cup clash between the arch-rivals in Manchester.

Azam had formed an important 104-run partnership with opener Fakhar Zaman, before Yadav bamboozled the right-hand batsman with a dream delivery, leaving him stare at the pitch in utter disbelief before he eventually made his way to the pavilion.

"It was special since it came in a World Cup match against Pakistan and it was their main wicket at a very crucial juncture," said Kuldeep. "Basically it was all skill. The more your ball rotates in the air and how much effort you have put into it. The ball drifted, then dipped and came back in after taking a sharp turn. I have dismissed a lot of batsmen through the same delivery."

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The 25-year-old also recalled how he had previously taken Azam’s wicket, when the two sides met in an Asia Cup match in 2018 in Dubai. Yadav had bowled a wrong'un, which Azam failed to read and was dismissed for 47.

"I dismissed Babar Azam in Asia Cup as well on the wrong'un. That was also a very different kind of delivery," he said. "People don't notice that but that ball was also very different. Since the World Cup ball was at a big stage, so everyone noticed."

Yadav ended up with figures of 2-32 as his left-arm spin played a crucial role in India’s 89-run victory via DLS over Pakistan in the World Cup game.