New Delhi: Team India spinner Kuldeep Yadav equalled an elite Test record after bagging a fifer during West Indies’ first innings on Day 3 of the ongoing 2nd Test between the two sides at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. Kuldeep recorded his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests as India bundled out West Indies for a paltry 248 runs in their first innings.
In pursuit of India’s massive first-innings total of 518 runs, West Indies resumed their first innings on 140/4 on Day 2 of the Test match on Sunday. Kuldeep ran riot in the morning session as he picked up three wickets to reduce the visitors to 217/8 at Lunch. The left-arm spinner cleaned up Shai Hope with a peach of a delivery before running through West Indies’ lower middle order.
After cleaning up Hope, Kuldeep dismissed Tevin Imlach (21) and Justin Greaves (17) cheaply as West Indies struggled before lunch. However, a 46-run stand between Khary Pierre (23) and Anderson Phillip, who remained unbeaten on 24, helped West Indies avoid getting all-out before Lunch.
Jasprit Bumrah broke the partnership immediately post Lunch before Kuldeep trapped Jayden Seales lbw on 13 to skittle out the visitors for 248 runs in their first innings and complete his fifer. Kuldeep finished with excellent figures of 5/82 and equalled an elite record.
Kuldeep Yadav equals elite Test record
With his fifer in the Delhi Test against West Indies, Kuldeep equalled the record for the most fifers by a left-arm wrist spinner in Test cricket. It was his fifth fifer in the longest format, which saw him go on level terms with former England spinner Johnny Wardle, who bagged five fifers in his Test career. While Wardle achieved the feat in 28 Tests, Kuldeep has managed to equal his record in just 15 Tests for India.
Most five-wicket hauls by left-arm wrist spinners in Tests:
5 – Kuldeep Yadav (15 Tests)
5 – Johnny Wardle (28)
4 – Paul Adams (45)
India enforce follow-on on West Indies
India enforced a follow-on against West Indies in the 2nd Test in New Delhi on Sunday after bundling out the visitors for a paltry 248 runs in their first innings. West Indies needed to reach the 319-mark to avoid the follow-on in pursuit of India’s first-innings total of 518 runs, however, they failed to do so after yet another dismal show from their batters. Kuldeep Yadav picked up a fifer, while Ravindra Jadeja bagged three wickets as the spinners dominated the proceedings for India.