IND vs ENG: Kuldeep Yadav Five-for Triggers England Collapse in Dharamsala
IND vs ENG: Kuldeep Yadav Five-for Triggers England Collapse in Dharamsala
On the first day of the fifth and final Test match between India and England in Dharamsala on Thursday (March 7), Kuldeep Yadav’s fourth century in Test matches (5-72) along with fifty-seven-year-old Rohit Sharma (52*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) helped India win. In seamer-friendly conditions, England elected to bat and got a strong start to the day’s play thanks to Zak Crawley’s fifty (79).
Throughout the first hour, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah of India’s new-ball team regularly hammered the bat but were unable to find the nick. After a rocky beginning, Ben Duckett showed promise and went on to become the first of Kuldeep’s five victims.
Kuldeep Yadav Takes Five Wickets as England Crumble
The left-arm wrist spinner didn’t take long to give India their first breakthrough, dismissing Duckett in his opening over after forcing the southpaw to make a mistake. The batter had worries about Kuldeep because of the zip he was pulling off the surface. Although the song wasn’t particularly amazing, the 29-year-old utilized every one of his abilities to throw off England’s batters’ rhythm.
Before Ollie Pope’s pathetic attempt to come down the pitch led to Dhruv Jurel’s easiest-ever stumping, the man was put through a maze. A cunning leg break then set up a well-positioned Crawley, who had looked effortless against both pace and spin, to be bowled through the gate.
Ben Stokes was not spared either, as he was alternately given leg breaks and a variety of googlies before the latter got him leg before wicket, trapped to the crease. It took Jonny Bairstow a few overs to realize that he could hit his way out of difficulty, and Kuldeep eventually got the final laugh.
His ability to bowl with slight variations in length and tempo, as well as his daring decision to toss the ball up regularly, were what made his performance stand out. Ravindra Jadeja took full advantage of the slide and hold on the surface during this time to get Joe Root for a crucial wicket. The collapse was so dramatic that England lost six wickets in just 37 balls due to slide from 175/3 to 183/8.
Ravichandran Ashwin Completes Rout in 100th Test
Ravichandran Ashwin (4/51) completed the cleanup in his 100th Test match by taking the final four English wickets to fall. The off-spinner did not have the best of starts, but he returned with a bang to make sure Kuldeep’s act was solidified. With the exception of Crawley, none of England’s hitters could bat clearly at the crease. Even Root and Stokes, two of the team’s more experienced hitters, were guilty of having their strategies mixed up. The aggressive display from India’s openers complemented the bowlers’ impressive effort.
Jaiswal and Rohit Shine with the Bat
Jaiswal continued his incredible performance in the series, becoming just the second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar to surpass 700 runs in these five Test matches. The young left-hander also broke the record for the fastest time to 1000 Test runs for India (based on the number of matches played).
At his most fearless, he skillfully dispatched the pacers and spinners. With an over that went for three sixes, Tom Hartley took the brunt of the attack. With a few entertaining punches and pulls, Rohit maintained the momentum on his end as well. Jaiswal’s overly aggressive style eventually resulted in his wicket, but not before he caused a great deal of damage.
Although Shubman Gill has also started off well, Rohit has persisted in making his plays. Much of the day has seen the surface play nicely, and India’s spinners, especially Kuldeep, have been the main architects of the damage. There hasn’t been any comparable purchase from the surface for England’s inexperienced spin attack.
India wants to bat England out of the match with four full days remaining, but this series has proved that momentum swings can come swiftly. Similar to how it was during today’s afternoon session.
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