How Did Kuldeep Yadav Shine in India's Match Against South Africa?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kuldeep Yadav showcases exceptional skill with a three-wicket haul.
- India's strategy pays off with critical wickets.
- South African batters struggled to convert starts into substantial scores.
- The match highlights India's growing prowess in home conditions.
- Persistent bowling from India limits South Africa's scoring opportunities.
Guwahati, Nov 22 (NationPress) Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the star bowler on the inaugural day of the first Test hosted at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, as a determined India held South Africa to a score of 247/6 in 81.5 overs, with bad light cutting play short.
The left-arm wrist-spinner achieved impressive figures of 3-48, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja contributed with one wicket each, as India capitalized on their persistence by taking four wickets in the last session. Despite the favorable batting conditions, no South African batter managed to convert their starts into a half-century.
Each time the South African batters seemed to gain momentum, India swiftly seized the opportunity to claim wickets, ensuring the visitors couldn't dominate the opening day. As South Africa delves into their lower order, India will aim to conclude the innings efficiently on Day Two.
In the morning session, after opting to bat first, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton provided South Africa with a steady start against the new ball bowlers Bumrah and Siraj. Despite the lack of crowd engagement at India's latest Test venue, the duo managed to score runs, reaching 34/0 at the first drinks break.
Captain Rishabh Pant made a crucial decision to bring Bumrah back into the attack, resulting in Markram's dismissal for 38 just before tea. In the following session, Yadav took advantage of a delivery that drifted in and spun away, catching Rickelton's edge, leading to another quick wicket for India.
After a quiet period, Temba Bavuma started to assert himself against Kuldeep, showcasing some powerful shots. However, India's disciplined bowling eventually paid off, with Jadeja dismissing Bavuma for 41 after a solid partnership of 84 runs with Stubbs.
Kuldeep continued to shine, getting Stubbs for 49 and later luring Wiaan Mulder into a risky shot, resulting in another catch. Despite a brief partnership between Tony de Zorzi and Senuran Muthusamy, Siraj struck again with the new ball, dismissing de Zorzi with an exceptional catch from Pant.
Summary of the day: South Africa finished at 247/6 in 81.5 overs, with Tristan Stubbs scoring 49 and Temba Bavuma 41, while Kuldeep Yadav recorded impressive bowling figures of 3-48, and Ravindra Jadeja took 1-30.