The majority of wickets have been taken by fast bowlers so far in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. However, it was three spin bowlers, namely Kuldeep Yadav, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Mitchell Santner, who had the most significant influence on the match results. They put pressure on the batsmen into making incorrect shot choices, employing their strategic skills to create a web that continually ensnared the opposing batters.
These three bowlers predominantly utilised the flight of the ball and compelled the batsmen to attempt reverse sweeps and pull shots. In doing so, they demonstrated that precise line and length were not necessarily essential for taking wickets; instead, they tested the batsmen’s patience with their assertive approach, which often led to dismissals.
Kuldeep Yadav typically doesn’t focus on bowling deliveries towards the middle and leg stumps. However, in this instance, he cleverly employed this tactic to induce batsmen into attempting sweeps or bridge shots.
In a similar fashion, he dismissed Maxwell by compelling him to go for a pull shot. In the case of Afghanistan, he enticed Shahidi to execute a reverse sweep, and against Pakistan’s middle-order batsman, Iftikhar, he lured him into a sweeping shot, ultimately claiming three of his five wickets with this approach. He also secured wickets in a similar manner against Warner and Saud Shakeel.
Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, the off-spinner from Afghanistan, had remained wicketless in the first two matches against Bangladesh and India. However, in the recent game against the defending champions, England, he managed to secure three crucial wickets, including those of Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and Harry Brook.
The formidable left-arm spinner from New Zealand, Mitchell Santner, managed to dismiss the Netherlands batsmen through a variety of shots, including sweeps, reverse sweeps, and well-directed arm balls. Notably, his well-executed deliveries against England, particularly the one against Jonny Bairstow, led to a situation where Bairstow aimed to play a shot towards extra cover, but instead, the ball carried on longer than expected, eventually finding the hands of the fielder stationed off the pitch.
However, Adam Zampa delivered strong performances against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan displayed impressive skills but couldn’t create a significant impact. Kuldeep Yadav, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Mitchell Santner, on the other hand, will forever be etched in memory for their outstanding displays.
