A Kuldeep paradox that often stumps the Indian think tank

The left-arm wrist spinner takes 5/82 in the Delhi Test after not getting a game in the England series

- Ashish Magotra

There wasn't much in the wicket. That much Ravindra Jadeja had already indicated inhis press conference after Day 2 of the second Test on Saturday. “It's hard work,” he had said.

And true to his words, the Kotla wicket was its best for batting on Sunday. The turn was slow, the bounce was true and West Indies batters made the most of the conditions and a flagging Indian bowling attack to reach 178)2after being asked to follow on early on Day 3. They still trail India’s first innings total by 97 runs.

John Campbell (87) and Shai Hope (66), with his first fifty in 32 innings, put together a 138-run stand that would have had the hosts questioning their decision to enforce the follow-on in the first place.

But just as important as the West Indies fightback was the three wickets that Kuldeep Yadav took in the morning session to help his team take control and eventually bowl the visitors out for 248 in the first innings, The wicket wasn't doing much even then but the left-arm wrist-spinner’s mystery was enough to give India a massive advantage.

He dismissed Shai Hope for 36 off 57 balls with a delivery that took sharp turn, and an over later he got rid of the other overnight batter, Tevin Imlach, before getting his third for Sunday morning when he trapped Justin Greaves leg before for 17.