New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) When Kuldeep Yadav steps on the field, trouble is never far behind for the batsmen. Today, the India left-arm wrist wizard delivered a masterclass, claiming a five-wicket haul that left the West Indies shell-shocked on Day 3 of the Delhi Test at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium here today.
In just 15 Tests, Kuldeep has already taken five five-fers, matching the legendary Johnny Wardle’s tally, though Wardle achieved it in 28 matches. The company he keeps now is elite, and Kuldeep wore it like a badge of honour.
The decisive moment arrived in spectacular fashion as Jayden Seales fell LBW. Kuldeep’s sly googly, masterfully disguised, slipped past the bat, thudded against the pads, and shattered the stumps.
Seales went for a review, but the replay left no doubt, he was out cold. Precise. Merciless. Pure artistry. That wicket completed Kuldeep’s five-for and sent a stark warning to every batsman: facing him is a battle you cannot take lightly.
Across formats, Kuldeep is a storm. In four Tests, he has 19 wickets at a strike rate of 33.8; in 19 ODIs, 33 wickets at 27.3; and in T20Is, 17 wickets in nine matches at a strike rate of 12.7. This isn’t luck—it’s mastery, artistry, the full package.
The West Indies tried, they really did, but Kuldeep had them guessing every ball. Flight, turn, deception, he had it all. The stadium roared, the team cheered, and Kuldeep walked off like a man who had just delivered a statement: “I am here. I am lethal. And I belong among the greats.”
India now has the upper hand in the Test, and Kuldeep’s spell will be remembered as one of those performances that don’t just win games, they define careers.
