Kuldeep Yadav does a Harbhajan Singh at Eden Gardens

india--celebration-05
Kuldeep Yadav jumps in joy after claiming a hat-trick against Australia in the 2nd ODI today at Eden Gardens. Image Source: Xtra Time

Kolkata: Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Jadav on Thursday became the first Indian spinner to claim a hat-trick in ODI cricket. In doing so, Kuldeep also joins an elite list of Indian bowlers who has claimed a hat-trick in ODI’s. He joined medium pacers Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev, who also took a hat-trick in one day cricket.

Kuldeep, coming in to bowl the 33rd over of the Australia innings claimed the hat-trick off his second, third and fourth deliveries. The first of his dismissal was Mathew Wade. The Australian wicketkeeper was cleaned up by the Kolkata Knight Riders bowler. His next victim was Ashton Agar, who misread him to be plumbed in front of the wicket. The third wicket was that of Pat Cummins who was caught behind by MS Dhoni.

The 22 year old bowler leaped in joy on taking the hat-trick and started to run with this arms stretched, much to the joy of the Eden Gardens crowd. His bowling figure read as 10-1-54-3.

Medium pacer Chetan Sharma was the first bowler from India to take a hat-trick in ODI’s. Sharma achieved the feat against New Zealand during the 1987 Reliance World Cup group league match at Nagpur. Former India captain Kapil Dev also took a hat-trick in One Day Cricket. The Haryana Hurricane took a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup in 1990 at the same venue.

Kuldeep also reminded of Harbhajan Singh who took a hat-trick against the same opponents in that historic Eden Gardens test match in 2001. The turbanator congratulated Kuldeep on his twitter handle. He tweeted, “Congratulations @imkuldeep18 on your terrific achievement at the special venue #EdenGardens always have something special to offer #Hattric”

Harbhajan-tweet

The chinaman bowler joins an elite league of spinners to claim a hat-trick. He joins Saqlain Mushtaq (twice did for Pakistan), Aabdur Razzak (Bangladesh), Prosper Utseya (Zimbabwe), Tajiul Islam (Bangladesh) ,JP Duminy(South Africa) and Wanindu Hasaranga(Sri Lanka).