New Delhi: Team India stands tantalisingly close to victory in the second Test against the West Indies at Arun Jaitley Stadium, needing just 58 runs to seal the win on the final day.
At the heart of this dominance is spinner Kuldeep Yadav, whose mesmerising eight-wicket haul across both innings has catapulted him to the top of the series wicket-takers’ list with 12 scalps.
Kuldeep’s brilliance — five in the first innings and three in the second — forced West Indies to follow on after folding for 248 against India’s mammoth 518/5 declared. His victims included key batters, dismantling the Caribbean lineup on a pitch offering little assistance. All-rounder Washington Sundar showered praise on his teammate, revealing the secret behind Kuldeep’s Delhi dazzle.
Wrist-Spin Edge On Gentle Turf
Speaking to the media after stumps on day four, Sundar emphasised how Kuldeep’s wrist-spin prowess transformed the match. “I think he bowled brilliantly,” Sundar said. “He targeted tough areas for the batters and, being a wrist-spinner, gained that extra edge on the softer Feroz Shah Kotla surface compared to others.” Indeed, India’s spin trio accounted for 13 of West Indies’ 20 wickets, with Kuldeep toiling 55.5 overs for 186 runs and eight strikes. Sundar claimed one wicket in 36 overs, while veteran Ravindra Jadeja snared four in 52.
Endurance Lessons From England Tour
Reflecting on the marathon effort — over 200 overs bowled by Indian pacers and spinners — Sundar credited the recent England series for building stamina. “That tour definitely taught us what it’s like to stay on the field for five days; we fielded nearly 180-200 overs per match there,” he noted. “In Tests, it’s crucial to maintain optimal fitness — you must perform at your highest level.”
India had eyed a day-four finish, but resilient knocks from Shai Hope and John Campbell’s centuries, followed by Justin Greaves’ unbeaten fifty and Jayden Seales’ 32, prolonged the battle.