In the last few years, after Jasprit Bumrah, the one Indian bowler who has repeatedly underlined his reliability across conditions is Kuldeep Yadav. Whether the opposition is strong or the pitch is flat, the left‑arm wrist‑spinner has found ways to make an impact, even after phases of being dropped. That reputation grew further in Visakhapatnam, where he picked up four wickets in the third ODI against South Africa, his second four‑for of the series, on a surface that many felt was good for 350‑plus scores.
Alongside his match‑turning spell, a lighter moment involving Kuldeep, Rohit Sharma and stand‑in skipper KL Rahul grabbed just as much attention. Each time the umpire turned down an LBW appeal late in the South African innings, Kuldeep walked towards Rahul, clearly pushing for a DRS review. Rohit, fielding close in, could not control his laughter as he repeatedly signalled the spinner to go back to his mark, and the visuals quickly went viral on social media.
Speaking to the official broadcaster in the mid‑innings break, Kuldeep openly admitted that DRS calls are not his strength and that his teammates often pull his leg for it. He explained that whenever the ball hits the pad, he feels every shout is hitting the stumps, so he relies on the experience of Rohit and Rahul behind the stumps to keep him calm and make better decisions.
The incident everyone talked about came in the 43rd over: just after dismissing Corbin Bosch off his own bowling, Kuldeep rapped Lungi Ngidi on the pads from around the wicket and pleaded for a review, only for Rahul to remain unconvinced and Rohit to send him back with a smile. On the very next delivery, another appeal led to more laughter from Rohit and Rahul, underlining the easy chemistry within the Indian camp even in a high‑pressure decider.
