Dharamsala Test: Returning to his debut venue, Kuldeep Yadav wreaks havoc as England fold for 218

Tribune News Service

Deepankar Sharda

Dharamsala, March 7

Kuldeep Yadav seems to have a special connection with the HPCA stadium here. It was at the same venue that Kuldeep made his Test debut seven years ago — incidentally, it was also in the month of March. Kuldeep had picked up four wickets against Australia in the first innings.

IPL has been a hugely popular; a lot of kids want to play T20 and get into the IPL. I really do wish that they get there. But remember one thing, this format (Test)… it is in a lot of things that life wouldn’t teach you. I think Test cricket is what life is. It is the closest synergy that you can find to life. It will teach you to adapt, dealing with pressures. — R Ashwin, India off-spinner

---

1,871

The number of balls Kuldeep Yadav took to reach 50 wickets in Test cricket, which is the fewest for any Indian bowler

16

Yashasvi Jaiswal is the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 runs as an opener in men’s Tests, bettering the record held by Rohit Sharma (17 innings)

---

If you play regularly, you get more confident about your bowling. Game awareness also comes with it. It is very important to keep playing regularly as it makes your bowling sharp. I have also worked a lot on my fitness in the last 18 months.

Kuldeep Yadav, India Wrist Spinner

---

Kuldeep relishing ‘regular’ game time

Dharamsala: Kuldeep Yadav had made a memorable Test debut at the same venue in 2017. Though the spinner said he has grown immensely as a bowler in the last seven years, the memory of his maiden Test has not faded. “I remember my previous stint at this venue, the memory never fades away. I have become a lot more mature about my bowling. I understand my game a lot better now. I know how to read the wicket well,” said the 29-year-old. “Today I was using the drift well. I am very happy that we were able to get them out for 218 as it is a good wicket. As a spinner, you focus on the length and try to hit good length,” he said.

Playing his 12th Test, Kuldeep vouched for more such performances if given the chance to play regularly. In the ongoing series, he has claimed 17 wickets. “If you play regularly, you get more confident about your bowling. Game awareness also comes with it,” he said. “In the beginning, it was very challenging. I had changed my bowling action and it took six to eight months to find that rhythm. Now, things are all set and I am enjoying it,” he added. “In Ranchi, I tried something with my run-up (faster approach to the crease as it was a slow surface), and I practise that regularly.” — Deepankar Sharda

In only the second Test hosted by the stadium, Kuldeep again lit up the opening day with a five-wicket haul to put India on top against England in the fifth and final Test of the series.

On the eve of the Test, England skipper Ben Stokes had termed the pitch as a “belter”. However, the visitors seemed to have completely misjudged the conditions as the English batters were picked apart by India’s

spin trio — Kuldeep (5/72), Ravichandran Ashwin (4/51) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/17). England folded up for 218 in less than 60 overs.

It looked like a completely different pitch when India batted as the hosts replied strongly to cut down most of the deficit. Attacking fifties by openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal led the hosts to 135/1 in 35 overs.

Fizzling out

Despite England holding a strong position at 175/3, India’s bowlers made a stunning comeback and all credit goes to Kuldeep, who used the flight and drift to get his fourth five-wicket haul. The mild wind blowing at the ground helped new-ball bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. But England’s openers survived the initial period of fierce swing bowling.

However, the breakthrough came in the 18th over when Kuldeep took charge. After being hit for two fours, Kuldeep’s flight was rewarded as Ben Duckett’s mistimed hit was caught by a diving Shubman Gill.

He could have got rid of Zak Crawley (79 off 108) off his second ball of the day but India opted against taking a review for a catch. Kuldeep, though, got his man eventually with a brilliant delivery that crashed into Crawley’s leg-stump.

Kuldeep got Ollie Pope (11), Jonny Bairstow (29), who is playing his 100th Test, and Stokes (0) with googlies. From the other end, Jadeja trapped Joe Root (26) and England were suddenly struggling at 175/6.

Ashwin could not be denied in his 100th Test as the veteran off-spinner cleaned up the tail, dismissing Tom Hartley (6) and Mark Wood (0) in the same over, before wrapping up the England innings with wickets of Ben Foakes (24) and James Anderson (0).

Strong start

While the ball did wonders for India, the English bowlers failed to find much support. The conditions changed as the sun began to set. Openers Sharma and Jaiswal were off to a flying start. The skipper posted an unbeaten 52, while Jaiswal scored 57 before getting stumped by Foakes off Shoaib Bashir. The left-hander crossed the 1000-run mark in only his ninth Test.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Dharamsala #England