Familiarity with the Eden Gardens was a huge advantage for me, reveals Kuldeep Yadav

After defeating the visiting West Indian side in the Tests and ODIs, the Indian team also started the T20 series with a win. India defeated the Windies in the first game of the three-match T20 series taking a lead of one match. Kuldeep Yadav played his part picking three wickets and spending only thirteen runs. He was also adjudged as the man of the match for his performance.

"It is a massive, massive advantage when you have played a lot of matches at a venue. You know the wicket, the outfield and even the angels. That gives you a lot of confidence. I know for instance that if you vary your pace on this surface you will get your reward. It helps a lot and gives me immense confidence," said Yadav, reported PTI.

Krunal Pandya made his debut for India in the yesterday's match and showcased his all-round skills picking one wicket and also scoring a quickfire 19 runs to contribute handsomely to India’s cause.

"He came on in the seventh over and I in the eighth. The only chat we had was that the wicket was not offering turn but the ball was gripping," he said.

Yadav also showcased a new variety of ball which he delivers at a faster pace than his stock delivery. He made a wonderful use of that variety in the T20 match against the Windies.

"It's been four-five years since I started bowling this delivery at the nets. Sometimes, in the last series as well, I bowled a couple of these. I am getting confident with this delivery and using it in match situations as well. In T20 cricket you have to bowl such deliveries to break the rhythm of the batsmen... It can make the batsman pause," he revealed.

The match also had some fiery spells from young West Indian bowlers Oshane Thomas and Carlos Brathwaite who picked up two wickets each spending only 32 runs in their collective quota of eight overs. Apart from them Khary Pierre also picked a wicket spending only sixteen runs in his quota of four which made life uncomfortable for the Indian batsmen out on the field.

“Sometimes, small totals like 110 become difficult to chase. At Eden Gardens, the ball swings later in the second innings."

Dinesh Karthik came in at the sixth position and steadied the ship for India scoring a measured 31* runs which took India home. The spinner had some words of praise for the 33-year-old.

"He (Karthik) batted really well... Because the conditions were in his favour. He led KKR in the last IPL season so was well aware of the conditions." "A small score can be tricky and needed to control himself while wickets kept falling at the other end. It was also difficult because there were wickets falling at the other end and you had to rein yourself in. It was a very important innings for us," he concluded.