Kuldeep Yadav opened up about his light-hearted DRS banter with Rohit Sharma during the third and final ODI in Visakhapatnam, revealing how both his former captain Rohit and current captain KL Rahul continue to guide him during close review calls.
South Africa, asked to bat first in the series decider, posted a modest 270. Quinton de Kock top-scored with a fluent 106 off 89 balls. Kuldeep was India’s best bowler, taking four crucial wickets for 41 runs at an economy of 4.10, while Prasidh Krishna also picked up four wickets for 66.
However, the most entertaining moment came in Kuldeep’s final two overs, when he was convinced he had trapped Lungi Ngidi in front on three separate occasions. Confident that every appeal was out, he was ready to push for a review each time. But Rohit Sharma, standing at slip, immediately signalled against it and stopped him from convincing KL Rahul. At one point, Rohit was even heard on the stump mic saying: “If it hits pad, it’s not automatically out.”
Replays on the big screen proved Rohit right every time, leaving Kuldeep smiling. Eventually though, Kuldeep did dismiss Ngidi — fittingly, via an LBW — completing a four-wicket haul. The Indian team shared a laugh as the DRS drama came to an end.
Speaking to the official broadcaster during the innings break, Kuldeep admitted that DRS remains a weak spot for him. He said: “In DRS, I’m someone who’s very bad. He keeps pulling my leg. Whenever I’m bowling, if I try to hit the pad and succeed in that, I feel every ball is wicket. When you have a former captain and KL too, especially in DRS calls, as a bowler you feel like every not out is out. You need seniors like that to guide you.”
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