'This hat-trick tops my list as I was under pressure for last 10 months': Kuldeep

Kuldeep Yadav rates his hat-trick against West Indies in second one-dayer here on Wednesday as his best bowling performance as it came under pressure after a dip in form and exclusion from national team. Kuldeep, who was a permanent fixture from 2017 to early 2019, endured a slump starting from last IPL and after a disappointing World Cup where he was in and out of side, he was dropped for a good four months. On Wednesday, he became first Indian cricketer to claim two hat-tricks in international cricket.

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' last 10 months were very tough for me': Kuldeep

" last 10 months were very tough for me. After consistent performances, re comes a phase when wickets don't come by and you start thinking more about your bowling. After World Cup, I was dropped from team, n I worked really hard for four months," Kuldeep said after his second international hat-trick in India's 107-run win against West Indies.

He admitted that he was a bit nervous when he made a comeback in national colors after four months in T20 International against West Indies in Mumbai." T20 against West Indies in Mumbai was my first match for India in four months. I was a bit nervous as re was a bit of gap and I hadn't played international cricket during that phase. Performance-wise, this hat-trick will be at top of list because pressure was on me and it was a result of 4-5 months of hard work," he said. Asked about what was going through his mind before hat-trick ball, Kuldeep said that he was confused about wher to bowl a wrong 'un or a conventional chinaman to Alzarri Joseph.

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'I was a bit confused ': Kuldeep Yadav

"I was a bit confused about which one to bowl wrong 'un or chinaman. I thought wrong 'un is best option and I put a second slip re. I was thinking to bowl off-middle line and if he misses n I will get wicket. That was plan," he revealed.He didn't think that even during a slump in form, he was bowling badly but needed a bit more planning on variation."I have worked on my variation, pace, and accuracy which is why pace that I have bowled in last two ODIs had been great. way I used my variations, I am very happy."But it was t about a new variation but more about altering pace of his deliveries according to nature of track.

"I think it is t about new variations but more about varying pace according to nature of track. In India, tracks are on slower side and you need to mix it up sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Worked with Bharat Arun Sir and Ravi sir, both motivated me," he said. In first ODI in Chennai, Kuldeep went wicketless for 48 runs but he feels that more than bad bowling it was good batting from Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer that changed complexion of that match."We bowled well in Chennai also. I think at times, we should give credit to batsmen also. manner in which Hetmyer and Shai Hope batted was praiseworthy. y paced it well. When y felt, y attacked, when y felt, y defended. re were obviously areas which we could have improved, and that's what we did over here."He did t forget to mention that Visakhapatnam is his "lucky ground"."It feels amazing to get a hat-trick in Visakhapatnam. I have w got nine wickets from three ODIs over here all three-wicket hauls. This ground has been good to me."

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READ: IND v WI: Kuldeep Yadav becomes first Indian player to register two ODI hat-tricks