“Hope he gets more chances”- Kuldeep Yadav makes comeback after 22 months in style, destroys Bangladesh’s innings
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Kuldeep Yadav
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who made a comeback to Test cricket after 22 months, first shone with his stubborn knock and later destroyed Bangladesh’s innings with his fifer in Chattogram. He was the top bowler on Day 2 with four scalps, and early on Day 3, he dismissed Ebadot Hossain, giving an advantage to the India side. Bangladesh were bundled out for 150, owing to the Chinaman’s outstanding fifer, on Friday (December 16).
On Day 2, after set batter Shreyas Iyer (86) headed back to the pavilion, Kuldeep (40) stitched an 87-run stand with Ravichandran Ashwin (58). India scored a commanding total of 404.
Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Taijul Islam, and Ebadot Hossain were Kuldeep’s victims. He conceded just 40 runs in his spell.
After making the comeback to the team, Kuldeep hasn’t been always included in the squad. But all-rounder Ravinder Jadeja’s injury allowed the 28-year-old to represent the Men in Blue again. This was his 3rd five-wicket haul in his Test career.
After bowling out Bangladesh for 150, India led by 254 runs. Apart from Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj scalped one, while Umesh Yadav and Axar Patel grabbed two wickets.
Surprisingly, Kuldeep has played just eight Tests in five years. He is included in the squad when an extra spinner is required. He last featured in a Test for India was back in February 2021.
Nevertheless, he has registered the best figures by an Indian spinner in Bangladesh by surpassing Ashwin and Anil Kumble. Ashwin had 5/87 in Fatullah in 2015, while Kumble scalped four for 55 runs at this venue back in 2004. Overall, pacer Zaheer Khan has the best figures when he scaped 7/87 in Mirpur in 2017.
India chose not to give a follow-on after bowling out Bangladesh. Right now (when this article is being written), India has scored 60 runs for no loss of wickets. KL Rahul (23) and Shubman Gill (38) are at the crease. India are leading by 318 runs.
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Gouri Das
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