Internet Desk: Debutant Kuldeep Yadav made a perfect entry into test cricket, as he returned with four wickets to restrict Australia to 300 all out on the opening day of the fourth test match at Dharamsala.
The 22 year old chinaman returned with figures of four for 68 in 23 overs.
The visitors looked well on course to score in excess of 300 runs as they went in for lunch with the score on 131/1. But a terrific spell of bowling by the debutant Kuldeep, dented Australia’s ambition of scoring a huge first innings total. India’s first ever chinaman bowler accounted for David Warner (56), Peter Handscomb (8) and Glenn Maxwell (8).
India did not score any run or lost wicket in the single over bowled by Josh Hazlewood before stumps were drawn.
This was after the visitors were on a roll during the opening session, as the Australian skipper Steve Smith along with David Warner added 134 runs for the second wicket. Smith carried on his good form with the bat, reaching his third century of the series. The Australian captain scored 111 runs before being held by stand in skipper Ajinkya Rahane at slips of the bowling of Ashwin.
Australia were in some spot with the score at 208/6.
Australian keeper Matthew Wade’s (57) rear guard effort stemmed the rot after the middle-order collapse with Australia managing to reach 300-run mark.
Umesh Yadav (2/69 in 15 overs) once again played his part to perfection while Ravichandran Ashwin (1/54 in 23 overs) got the all-important wicket of Smith, who edged one to stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane at slip at stroke of tea. Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also had a wicket apiece.
But it was the Kanpur lad, who turned things around after a gloomy first session. In fact the second session saw Australia lose five wickets for 71 runs with home team taking control of the proceedings.
It was surprise element in Kuldeep’s bowling that caught the Australian team on wrong foot.
Credit should be given to Rahane, who showed a lot of faith in the youngster by giving him an extended spell.
All three batsmen dismissed during the post-lunch session were guilty of not reading Kuldeep from his hand, trying to play him off the pitch.
The extra bounce also helped his cause as Warner, after doing all the hardwork, tried to play a cut shot close to his body but the delivery bounced wee bit more and a thick edge flew to Rahane at first slip.
Kuldeep was in tears after getting his maiden Test wicket. After the over, Kohli was seen having a chat with the youngster at the boundary line.
Australia’s Ranchi Test saviour Handscomb shaped for a cover drive to a fullish delivery that turned in to breach his defence. Maxwell was in a daze as he got the classical wrong’ un (googly for right-arm leg-break) as he tried to play for the turn only to find the bails dislodged.
Every wicket that the youngster got had coach Anil Kumble stand up and applaud.