Kuldeep Yadav, fresh from his match-winning spells in the Asia Cup, marked his grand return to Test cricket with a delivery that reminded fans why he is regarded as India’s spin wizard. Bowling with guile and control, he outfoxed West Indies’ most dependable batter, Shai Hope, to give India the upper hand on Day 1 of the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Hope, who had looked steady, was undone by a classic Kuldeep ripper that clipped the outer edge of the off-stump, sending him back for 26. The wicket left the visitors reeling, half their side dismissed before lunch.
This Test holds added significance for India. It is their first home red-ball assignment since the humbling 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand in September-October 2024. The two-match series against the West Indies presents an opportunity for redemption, and India have started strongly. Captain Shubman Gill’s streak of losing tosses continued, but luck tilted India’s way as the visitors chose to bat first on a lively green pitch.
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah set the tone early with fiery spells. Siraj, who knows this surface well from his Gujarat Titans stint in the IPL, bowled with precision and hostility. He ripped through the Windies top order in his first spell of seven overs, claiming three wickets—Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, and Brandon King. Bumrah complemented him perfectly by removing John Campbell cheaply.
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Just when Roston Chase and Shai Hope looked to rebuild, Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliance ended their resistance. The left-arm chinaman flighted one beautifully outside off, luring Hope into a half-committed drive. The ball spun sharply, kissed the edge, and knocked back the stump. The dismissal was a huge breakthrough, ending a threatening stand and reinforcing Kuldeep’s value in home conditions.
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Siraj wasn’t done yet. Returning for his second spell after lunch, he produced another gem to castle West Indies captain Roston Chase for 24. With that, he completed his fourth wicket of the innings, underlining his growing stature as India’s spearhead in red-ball cricket.
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Amidst the bowling heroics, eyes are also on young Sai Sudharsan, who is set to make his first Test appearance on Indian soil. Having debuted earlier in England, Sudharsan now gets a chance to showcase his temperament at home in familiar surroundings at Ahmedabad. With Virat Kohli’s retirement creating a vacancy at No. 3, Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal are locked in a contest for the crucial slot, while captain Gill has anchored himself at No. 4.
With early dominance from Siraj, Bumrah, and Kuldeep, and the promise of new batting talent waiting to unfold, India have begun this series with authority. The West Indies, meanwhile, face yet another uphill climb in subcontinent conditions.
