It wouldn’t be wrong to state that spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the top performer from both the teams on the second day of the first Test match between Bangladesh and India in Chattogram today.
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Been on the field for almost the full day, Yadav followed a career-best 40 (114) with the bat in hand with bowling figures of 10-3-33-4 to run through the Bangladeshi middle-order in the evening session.
Playing a Test match after 22 months, Yadav perhaps gained confidence from his time in the middle during a 92-run eighth-wicket partnership alongside all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin (58). In what wasn’t just another partnership, the Indian spin-duo doubtlessly put the team in a commanding position especially after batter Shreyas Iyer (86) was dismissed right at the start of Day 2.
“When I was batting, I thought that there was not much in it for the spinners. I didn’t face any discomfort while batting. I thought it’ll be good for batting,” Yadav told the host broadcaster after Stumps, Day 2.
Kuldeep Yadav avows to being tense before bowling in Test cricket after 22 months
Yadav, much like everyone else, was correct with his judgement about the pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. However, the left-arm spinner was still able to dictate terms to dismiss the likes of Shakib Al Hasan (3), Nurul Hasan (16), Mushfiqur Rahim (28) and Taijul Islam (0).
Yadav, whose wickets came via catches at first slip and short leg, lbw and bowled, was all over the Bangladeshi batters exposing their lack of experience while playing skillful chinaman bowlers. Having not received consistent opportunities across formats, Yadav expressed delight at returning with the aforementioned figures today.
“I was a bit nervous. I was very lucky to get the first wicket [Shakib] in the first over. Got the momentum back. After a couple of overs, I started feeling well, mixed my pace and variations, tried both the angles – over the wicket and round the wicket. I was getting proper turn. I was actually loving it,” Yadav added.
