India vs Windies 2018, Twitter Reactions
Kuldeep Yadav celebrates his wicket. Credits: BCCI Twitter

Team India left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket as he achieved the feat in the second innings of Windies’ batting in the opening Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.

 It was a superb piece of wrist spin bowling by Kuldeep Yadav as Windies were shot out for 196 in the second essay, thus handing the hosts a huge victory by an innings and 272 runs. It also marked their biggest victory in Test cricket going past the victory against Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs.

Kuldeep Yadav who bagged a four-wicket haul in his debut Test against Australia wasn’t at his imperious best in the first innings. However, in the second innings, he gave a bit more flight and invited the batsmen to play some false shots.

Kuldeep Yadav bags his maiden five-wicket haul for India in Tests

Kuldeep Yadav, India, Cricket
Kuldeep Yadav celebrates a wicket on Day three of the 1st Test against Windies in Rajkot. (Image Courtesy: BCCI)

He bagged the most important wicket of Kieran Powell who had scored 83 runs by then. It was a well tossed up delivery. It took the outside edge of his bat and was brilliantly taken by Prithvi Shaw at the silly point region.

He also bagged the prized wicket of Roston Chase who was the top scorer for Windies in the first innings. Kuldeep Yadav eventually finished with exceptional figures of 5/57. Barring Kuldeep, Ashwin and Jadeja were impressive as well, bagging some crucial wickets. The Man of the Match Award was handed over to Prithvi Shaw for his sensational debut century. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja also managed to score impressive centuries.

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Following the huge victory, Kuldeep Yadav revealed that it wasn’t easy to bowl with the red ball right away.

“It’s very difficult to bowl with the red ball straightaway when you are coming from white ball cricket. Sometimes it takes time to adjust,” Kuldeep Yadav said while talking after the match.

Kuldeep Yadav, India, India vs Windies
Kuldeep Yadav bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. (Image Courtesy: BCCI)

“I bowled too full in the first innings, I bowled according to the wicket and the batsman in the second innings. Kookaburra red ball is good to grip. SG is okay at the moment. Ravi Shastri told me to try and bowl from round the wicket. I was happy with that angle. I am more used to the white ball. I am learning and I am happy with the way it all came out,” Kuldeep said.

It was a fine performance from Kuldeep Yadav as he took his maiden fifer. Yadav will like to continue in the similar fashion.

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