Twitter feels Kuldeep Yadav missed MS Dhoni in the third ODI against New Zealand

Kuldeep Yadav has been one of India’s gun bowlers in the shorter formats ever since making his debut in 2017. The 24-year-old has 77 wickets in 38 matches at an economy rate of 4.78. The Uttar Pradesh-born is currently plying his trade in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand and is the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets at an impressive average of 15.37 and a strike-rate of 21.

In the first match at the McLean Park in Napier, the youngster got the prized scalp of opposition captain Kane Williamson. Then he came back to brush off the tail and helped his team restrict the Kiwis’ to 157 runs in 38 overs. India won that game comprehensively by eight wickets. The Chinaman bowler was awe-inspiring even in the second encounter at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

Dhoni assisting Kuldeep

Yet another time, the Young Turk picked up a four-wicket haul. This time around, the spell came when the visiting team was defending a massive score of 324. Kuldeep got rid of the middle-order, including the likes of Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme. However, the spinner couldn’t weave his magic in the third match at the same venue and returned wicketless.

In the meantime, Twitter believes that Kuldeep missed the services veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, MS Dhoni, who didn’t play owing to a hamstring strain, in the match. Dinesh Karthik played in Dhoni’s place. MSD is someone, who’s pretty vocal behind the wickets and he keeps sharing insights from behind the wickets. Having seen it all, he reads the match situation and the batsman’s mind to perfection.

In the first two games, Dhoni was also seen advising Kuldeep and the suggestions worked wonders for the bowler. Nevertheless. Dhoni not playing the erstwhile match meant that Kuldeep had to formulate his own strategies, which didn’t work out on the day. Subsequently, he couldn’t pick up a single wicket despite the New Zealand batting straining to find its feet.

Here is how Twitter reacted

It's crystal clear now, the reason Kuldeep Yadav has 0 wickets in this match is MS Dhoni not being behind the stumps.#NZvsIND #Dhoni #KuldeepYadav #MSDhoni #ViratKohli #INDvsNZ #Pandya #HardikPandya #MSD #KulCha

— Rahul Sawant (@RudeDudeRahul) January 28, 2019

Today no #MSDhoni so no wicket to #KuldeepYadav and #kedarjadhav #NZvIND

— Mitul Makwana (@MitulMakwana8) January 28, 2019

Fans definitely missed Dhoni today but Kuldeep Yadav missed him more. His bowling figure says it all.#MSDhoni #MSD #IndvNZ #IndVsNZ

— Riju R. (@RC_Riju) January 28, 2019

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal's combined ODI bowling average –
With MSD – 21.79
Without MSD – 45.0#INDvNZ @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/rvvxSyuqxm

— MiR AfZal (@MiROfficial10) January 28, 2019

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