In the 8th match of the 2022 season of IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders took on Punjab Kings. KKR were coming at the back of a closely fought loss to RCB in a low scoring thriller. Punjab Kings got off to a winning start against RCB in the first match.
It is pertinent to get on a winning momentum for any team and therefore, both teams were looking to seize the opportunity in this game and win it. KKR won the toss and opted to bowl. After the first 6 overs, Punjab had comfortably scored around 65 runs but had lost 3 wickets. However, it was at this point that they had to capitalize to get a big total on the scorecard. However, one man, Umesh Yadav had other plans.
Umesh Yadav puts on a stellar show
After the fall off Dhawan a couple of balls before the powerplay was to come to an end, out walked the big-hitting Liam Livingstone. He just had one mandate which was to hit the ball long and hard. He tried to get off to a quick start with a six and four. Before him, Rajapaksa had given a flying start to Punjab by scoring 31 off 9 balls. Livingstone was expected to carry on from that momentum.
In the 9th over, Livingstone had got 19 off 15 balls and it seemed as if he was not being able to time the ball well. Umesh Yadav had taken the over and on the 5th ball off the over, he completely deceived Livingstone with a slower ball. He bowled a very slow and wide ball and Livingstone was taken aback by that ball.
In the next ball, Livingstone needed to get a drag along to keep the score board ticking. In the urgency to clear the boundary, Livingstone was again deceived by the slower ball. He tried to hit it over long-off but Tim Southee took a comfortable catch at long-off.
🏏Indian 🇮🇳 Premier League 2022. 🏆
🎯 🎳 Liam Livingstone c Tim Southee b Umesh Yadav 19 (16b). Punjab Kings.#CricketMasterUpdater pic.twitter.com/dTG9RzftyA
— Live Cricket Master Updater (@MohsinM55415496) April 1, 2022
Umesh Yadav gets Danger man Liam Livingstone. Punjab Kings 4 down, second wicket for Umesh Yadav.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 1, 2022
Really intriguing decision to bring Umesh Yadav back to bowl the 8th. And he justified it by removing danger man Livingstone. Loving Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy! #IPL #KKRvPBKS
— Srinjoy Sanyal (@srinjoysanyal07) April 1, 2022
Umesh Yadav’s new innings
Umesh Yadav has made a phenomenal start to the IPL and has bowled with great gusto. He has been unplayable in most matches and in this match too, he returned with impressive returns off 4 overs for just 23 runs with an insane 4 wickets. He was mighty impressive in the RCB match as well.
Look at some of the reactions to Umesh Yadav’s scintillating bowling performance on Twitter.
Umesh Yadav was not picked in initial auction rounds
And today he is one of the leading wicket takers of IPL.
Moral : Trust yourself, even when no one else does. #KKRvsPBKS
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) April 1, 2022
Can anyone not be happy for Umesh Yadav. Only 2 games in the last 2 years and already 8 wickets in 3 games. He is bowling as well as he has
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 1, 2022
Can anyone not be happy for Umesh Yadav. Only 2 games in the last 2 years and already 8 wickets in 3 games. He is bowling as well as he has
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 1, 2022
