Despite the West Indies’ late resurgence on Day 3 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where John Campbell and Shai Hope forged a resilient 138-run partnership, the spotlight remained firmly on Kuldeep Yadav. His remarkable fifth five-wicket haul in just his 15th Test appearance was a testament to his skill and impact, even if the West Indies managed to hold on after India enforced the follow-on.
Kuldeep’s initial spell on Sunday was particularly crucial, delivering figures of 10-0-27-3. This stellar performance was instrumental in securing India a significant 270-run first-innings lead, showcasing his ability to dominate even on a slow, unyielding pitch. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate highlighted the 30-year-old’s unique ‘mystery’ as a left-arm wrist-spinner—a rare and valuable asset in modern cricket.
Reflecting on Kuldeep’s recent absence from Test matches in England, largely due to India’s preference for batting depth, ten Doeschate admitted that the spinner’s recent displays could spark a strategic shift. ‘It’s incredibly challenging to bench someone like him now,’ Doeschate stated. ‘His performance here, even on a wicket that offered little, makes you wonder about the impact he could have had in matches like Manchester or Leeds. He’s certainly made a strong case for himself moving forward.’
Doeschate further suggested that if the team’s priority is winning Test matches, India might consider a bolder approach: ‘If we’re serious about winning Tests, we might have to make the bold decision to reduce a batter and include Kuldeep, especially given his exceptional bowling in these last two Tests.’