Watch: Beautiful moment! Ravichandran Ashwin asks Kuldeep Yadav to lead teammates off the field amid his 100th Test
Published - 07 Mar 2024, 04:19 PM | Updated - 07 Mar 2024, 07:43 PM
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A heartwarming moment unfolded between Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav on Day 1 of the fifth Test against England. Ravichandran Ashwin offered the ball to Kuldeep Yadav to lead the team off the field, despite playing his 100th Test match.
England skipper Ben Stokes opted to bat first after winning the toss at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday, March 7. The visiting team made one change to their lineup, with Mark Wood replacing Ollie Robinson in the XI.
Watch – Ravichandran Ashwin Asks Kuldeep Yadav To Lead Teammates Off The Field
The home team bowled out the opposition team for 218 runs in the first innings. As India walked off the field, Ravichandran Ashwin was initially given the honor to lead. However, Ashwin handed the ball back to Kuldeep Yadav, urging him to lead the team off to the field.
This exchange marked a touching moment between the two teammates, reflecting their mutual respect and sportsmanship. Kuldeep led the Indian teammates off the field after England’s first innings during the final session on the opening day of the ongoing match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India took to social media (formerly known as Twitter) to share the video.
𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚!
R Ashwin 🤝 Kuldeep Yadav
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/jnMticF6fc #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @ashwinravi99 | @imkuldeep18 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/hJyrCS6Hqh
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 7, 2024
Kuldeep Yadav Provides First Breakthrough For India On Day 1
England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett provided a solid start, although they struggled to score quickly against the Indian pacers. The duo forged a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. Unlike his batting in previous matches, Duckett stuggled to score runs.
Kuldeep Yadav provided an early breakthrough for India by dismissing Duckett, who scored 27 runs off 58 deliveries. The left-arm wrist spinner then took another wicket for the home team, dismissing Ollie Pope just before the lunch break on the opening day.
The 29-year-old went on to dismiss Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Stokes to complete his five-wicket haul, restricting England to 175/6. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up the remaining four wickets to bowl out the opposition team for 218 runs in the first innings.
This Is His Favorite Hunting Ground – Saba Karim
Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim highlighted Ben Duckett’s struggle to read Kuldeep Yadav’s deliveries, leading to unnecessary aggression. He emphasized the importance for England batters to recognize Yadav’s variations early to avoid trouble.
“Ben Duckett was unable to read Kuldeep Yadav’s delivery from the release, which is when you end up being a lot more aggressive which was not required at all. If you’re not able to read his variations at the point of release, you’re putting yourself in a lot of trouble. That is what all England batters need to be wary of because this is his favorite hunting ground,” Karim said on Sports 18.
Kuldeep made his debut at the same venue during the 2017 Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. He showcased his talent by taking four wickets in his first innings. Despite his consistent performances, he has often found himself waiting for opportunities to play.
