Anshu Bhadoria - Monday, Oct 13, 2025In the second Test match being played between India and West Indies in Delhi, Kuldeep initially troubled the West Indies with his spin, but in the second innings he was ineffective and leaked a lot of runs.
Kuldeep Yadav's performance in the Delhi Test has been a testament to how fortunes can turn. Kuldeep, who dismissed five batsmen with his spin to bundle out the West Indies for 248 in the first innings on the third day of the Delhi Test, was reduced to a duck in a day and a half. The West Indies batsmen made him starve for wickets in the second innings, thus tarnishing his career.
India declared their first innings at 518 for five. They then bowled out the West Indies for 248, giving India a 270-run lead. The way India bowled and the West Indies batted, it seemed India would win this match by an innings, but the visiting team fought back, scoring 390 runs and setting India a target of 121 runs.
In the first innings, Kuldeep took five wickets for 58 runs. His magic didn't work in the second innings, finishing with three wickets for 104 runs in 29 overs. This is the first time Kuldeep has conceded more than 100 runs in an innings of a Test match. This century came for the first time in his career. Kuldeep was expected to use his spin magic in the second innings, similar to the first, and quickly dismiss the West Indies, but that didn't happen. It took time for him to take wickets.
However, despite the West Indies' counterattack, Team India is still close to victory. In reply to India's 121, they ended the fourth day at 63 for one. KL Rahul is on 25 and Sai Sudharshan is on 30. India had posted a mammoth total in the first innings, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal's 175 and captain Shubman Gill's unbeaten 129.
The story begins on the third day. In reply to India's 518 in the first innings, the West Indies were bundled out for 248. India had a 270-run lead and seemed poised to win by the first session of the fourth day. Then John Campbell and Shai Hope established their footing, scoring centuries, and the West Indies posted 390 in the second innings, setting India a target of 121.
After Hope's departure, it seemed India would quickly dismiss the Windies. But then Justin Greaves established himself. Khary Pierre was dismissed without scoring. Jomel Warrican also managed only three runs. Anderson Phillip managed only two. Greaves was supported by Jaden Seals, who scored 32 runs and shared a 79-run partnership with Greaves. Greaves faced 85 balls and scored an unbeaten 50 with three fours. Seals scored 32 runs off 67 balls with one four and one six. Bumrah dismissed Seals to end the West Indies innings.
India were set a target of 121 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had scored a century in the first innings, was aggressive from the start and lost his wicket early. He tried to hit a big shot off Warrican but was caught by Phillip at long on. He managed only eight runs. From here, Rahul and Sudarshan did not allow any further setback till the end of the day's play.
