New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS) After India secured a 2-1 victory in the ODI series against South Africa, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav was named the impact player of the series award.

The Kanpur-based spinner took nine wickets in three matches at an average of 20.77 and became the leading wicket-taker in a series heavily dominated by batters.

“Guys, I’ve got the honour and the pleasure of presenting the impact player of the series. I just think in a series where everyone contributes, I know we say it a lot, but in a series where you’ve all contributed in all three games, and a series where the bat dominates in most of the contests, the impact player of the series for this series is Kuldeep Yadav,” said India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate in a video posted on BCCI’s social media accounts on Sunday.

“Nothing much from my side. Everything the coach has already told. So, congrats to Virat bhai and Jaisu – he played an unbelievable innings and that’s it, enjoy,” said Kuldeep.

Kuldeep started with figures of 4-68 in the opening game at JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, before taking just one wicket at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur.

But he bounced back to take another four-wicket haul while conceding just 41 runs in the series decider at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, which India won by nine wickets to seal the series 2-1.

He will next be seen in action when India faces South Africa in a five-match T20I series, beginning on December 9 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

The series continues with matches in New Chandigarh (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17), and Ahmedabad (December 19).

–IANS

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