New Delhi, October 14, 2025 – Kuldeep Yadav, the Player of the Match, made an interesting observation following India's seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The left-arm wrist-spinner, who bagged a total of eight wickets in the match, including a crucial five-wicket haul in the first innings, stated that he did not experience the same kind of drift he usually gets on other pitches, such as the one in Ahmedabad.
"This was a completely different wicket," Kuldeep said after the match. "Bowling so many overs was a challenge, but I really enjoyed it. There wasn't much drift here; the pitch was quite dry". He emphasized that despite the lack of substantial drift, he relished the challenge of bowling long spells and securing breakthroughs for his team.
The Delhi pitch, in contrast to pitches that offer significant turn and drift, presented a different kind of challenge for the spinners. According to reports, the pitch was "flaccid" and did not break down as expected on the fourth day, which is unusual and prolonged the match. This meant Kuldeep had to rely more on subtle variations, changes of pace, and his ability to extract bounce, rather than significant sideways movement, to deceive the West Indies batsmen.
Kuldeep's performance in the Delhi Test is a testament to his adaptability and skill. Despite the unfavorable conditions for drift, he managed to trouble the batsmen with his variations and strategic bowling. His five-wicket haul in the first innings played a crucial role in India taking a substantial lead. In the second innings, even though he conceded 104 runs, he picked up three important wickets that helped stem the West Indies' fightback.
The match itself saw India securing a 2-0 series win against the West Indies. After enforcing the follow-on, India faced resistance from West Indies batsmen John Campbell and Shai Hope, who both scored centuries. Campbell made his maiden test century, while Hope reached a hundred after eight years. However, India eventually managed to bowl them out and chase down the target of 121 with seven wickets to spare. KL Rahul remained unbeaten with 55 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. Ravindra Jadeja was named Player of the Series for his consistent performance with both bat and ball. Several other players were also recognized for their contributions, including Yashasvi Jaiswal for being the 'Great Striker of the Match' and Sai Sudharsan for his outstanding catch.
Kuldeep's journey in Test cricket has been one of ups and downs. Despite making his debut in 2017, he has only played a limited number of Test matches. He was also left out of the entire five-Test series against England earlier this summer, which sparked considerable debate. However, he has consistently proven his ability to take wickets whenever he gets the opportunity. His recent performance in Delhi has further solidified his position as a key member of the Indian Test team.
