As the picturesque city of Dharamsala welcomed players and spectators for the fifth and final Test of the series between India and England, history was in the making on this momentous day, March 7. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, embraced by the majestic Dhauladhar mountain range, is witnessing only its second ever Test match. Kuldeep Yadav, India’s crafty wrist-spinner, has seized this opportunity to engrave his name amongst the iconic figures in Indian cricket, much like he did back in 2017 during his debut Test against Australia at the same venue.
Kuldeep, who had a memorable debut with four wickets in the first innings against Australia years ago, took center stage once again in Dharamsala with a sensational five-wicket haul. His skillful bowling showcased significant development since his entry into the longest format of the game, as he demonstrated finesse in the art of left-arm wrist spin.
The zenith of his bowling prowess in this match was his dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, through which Kuldeep etched his name in the annals of cricket history. With Bairstow’s wicket, he achieved the noteworthy milestone of 50 wickets in Test cricket, getting there in only his 12th match. This feat catapulted him to the status of joint fifth fastest Indian to this milestone, sharing the honor with the celebrated former India off-spinner, Erapalli Prasanna who, in an illustrious career, took 189 wickets across 47 Tests.
Other Indian bowlers have reached the 50-wicket mark in their 12th Test, including Axar Patel, Subhash Gupte, and Bhagwath Chandrasekhar. However, surpassing them all stands Ravichandran Ashwin, partaking in his 100th Test match in Dharamsala, who claimed his 50th scalp in just his 9th Test. The likes of Anil Kumble, Narendra Hirwani, Harbhajan Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah also outdid Kuldeep’s record, having achieved the milestone in 10 to 11 Tests.
As Kuldeep joined this elite group, the match unfolded with unexpected turns as England, which at one moment looked comfortable at 137 for 2, succumbed dramatically to a position of precarious instability, losing wickets in quick succession to find themselves teetering at 175 for the loss of 5 wickets. The visitors encountered a sudden and sharp downfall, raising doubts about their capacity to cross the seemingly distant 250-mark.
The pitch in Dharamsala, traditionally known to support pacers, revealed a turning character that turned England’s batting ordeal into an arduous task. The spinning conditions have thus far aided Kuldeep and will likely play a continued role in the outcome of this engrossing Test.
The unfolding drama of Day 1 has set a thrilling precedent for the remainder of this finale Test in the series. While the Indian spinners, notably Kuldeep, spin a web around the English batsmen, the visitors will have to conjure a strategy to counter the turn and bounce if they are to pose a competitive total on the board.
Cricket enthusiasts and analysts alike are keenly watching to see if Kuldeep will add more to his illustrious tally and lead India to a commanding position in this match. As the stadium relishes every delivery bowled and every shot played, the serene Dharamsala sets the stage for what promises to be a Test match to be remembered, etching new records and possibly witnessing the dawn of new cricketing heroes.
