Unbelievable! Kuldeep Yadav’s Masterclass Stuns England in 5th Test! Click to Witness the Jaw-Dropping Action

The highly anticipated 100th Test match for both India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and England’s Jonny Bairstow was finally underway, setting the stage for a potentially memorable showdown. Yet, it wasn’t Ashwin or Bairstow who stole the spotlight on the opening day of the India vs. England fifth Test. Instead, it was the left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav who left an indelible mark on the game.

Surprisingly, there had been speculation over Kuldeep’s inclusion in India’s XI for this Test, given the unique conditions prevailing in Dharamsala. With damp and cold weather conditions prevailing, India’s captain Rohit Sharma had contemplated the possibility of fielding three seamers. However, the indispensability of Ravindra Jadeja, both as a premier spinner and as a No. 5 batsman, couldn’t be overlooked. Moreover, Ashwin’s milestone 100th Test appearance meant he was an automatic selection. Thus, if India had opted for three seamers, Kuldeep might have found himself relegated to the bench. Fortunately for the Indian team and their fans, this scenario did not materialize.

Kuldeep seized the opportunity with both hands, making a significant impact on the game from the outset. His spellbinding performance during the first two sessions left England’s top-order reeling. The dismissals of Ben Duckett and others were a testament to Kuldeep’s mastery of wrist spin, with Duckett’s ill-advised heave resulting in a top-edge that was brilliantly pouched by Shubman Gill, who ran backward to complete the catch.

In essence, while the occasion of Ashwin and Bairstow’s landmark Test match was indeed noteworthy, it was Kuldeep Yadav who emerged as the undeniable hero of the day, captivating spectators with his mesmerizing display of wrist spin bowling.

India vs England Live Score 5th Test

In the tense moments just before Lunch, Ollie Pope found himself in a predicament, struggling to decipher the spin of the ball. Faced with the uncertainty, he made a daring dash down the wicket, only to be left stranded as the ball whizzed past his bat, leaving wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel with the simplest of stumping.

While the first two wickets of the morning session might not have fallen to extraordinary deliveries, it was the consistent pressure built by Kuldeep Yadav that truly deserves recognition. Clearly in his element, Kuldeep’s rhythm was evident on the very ground where he had made his mark with a four-wicket haul on debut against Australia seven years prior. It’s a puzzling fact that despite such a promising start, he has only featured in a mere 10 Tests since then, and notably, this venue hasn’t hosted a single Test match in the interim.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Dominant Spell Rocks England in Fifth Test

Despite the morning session’s initial dismissals not being spectacular, the relentless pressure exerted by Kuldeep Yadav warrants commendation. Clearly, he was in his element, echoing his previous success on this very ground where he announced his arrival with a memorable four-wicket haul against Australia seven years ago. However, it remains perplexing that despite such a promising start, he has been featured in only 10 Test matches since then, with this venue notably absent from the Test calendar during that time.

However, Kuldeep’s patience was soon rewarded as he unleashed a delivery that spun massively from an imaginary fifth stump, shattering the leg stump of England’s opener. The combination of inward drift and sharp turn left Crawley utterly bewildered.

Jonny Bairstow, also celebrating his 100th Test match like Ashwin, displayed intent in his innings but fell victim to Kuldeep’s mesmerizing variations. Bairstow, unable to read Kuldeep’s deliveries, managed only a faint outside edge of a deceptive googly, wasting a review in the process, echoing the fate of Joe Root and Ben Stokes who also squandered their reviews.

Root, deceived by Jadeja’s straighter delivery, found himself trapped in front, while Stokes became Kuldeep’s fifth victim, falling plumb to a googly. Kuldeep’s dominance was evident as he bowled 10.3 overs in the session, securing his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Ashwin then polished off the England tail, ending with figures of 4/51 as England finished their innings at 218 after choosing to bat.