Kuldeep Yadav's tale spin

By taking his career's second five-wicket haul in only his sixth Test appearance and, first in only his maiden appearance on Australian soil, India's left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has proved himself to be a precious commodity.

There is very few of his breed in international cricket. He has already proved himself to be a thorn in the opposition's flesh in the limited-overs format – both the 50-overs and the T20s – that in the company of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has won more matches for Indian than not.

Warming the bench for the first three Tests in Australia, Yadav spun a web around the Australian line-up at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week to pick up 5/99 in 31.5 overs. Traditionally, Sydney has been the only venue in Australia where teams can afford to play two spinners. But, as it has turned out in recent times, it is the pacers who have been more successful than the slow bowlers there.

The most recent, rain-affected drawn Test that saw India emerge triumphant in a series on Australian soil for the first time turned out a good batting beauty. India registered their second highest total in Australia (622/7d after their 705/7d in 2003-04 at the same venue) and in good batting conditions that the Australian batsmen did not make the most use of, Indian bowlers, particularly Yadav shone with the ball.

Yadav's efforts drew appreciation from the legendary Gavaskar, who said on air that the 24-year-old from Uttar Pradesh could be the bowler who could be looked into for taking wickets on pitches that do not assist turn.

Sample this: Aussie captain Tim Paine was done in by a Yadav beauty that the ball held its line and takes a marginal deviation to clip the leg bail as the batsman goes for an expansive drive soon after resumption after tea on the third day.

For his wicket-taking abilities and creating doubts in the minds of the batsmen, Yadav has earned himself the right to be the first choice spinner in the team. He is the one who will pick up wickets in any condition.

It may be unfair on the champion off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who will run through a side on turning tracks and who has been battling with injuries of late. Ashwin was looking good on his third tour of Australia in the first Test in Adelaide before being down with abdominal strain that kept him out of the remainder of the series.

But, this team under Virat Kohli is not one to bow down to sentiments. If Sourav Ganguly could choose young offie Harbhajan Singh ahead of the legendary Anil Kumble as his only spinner for overseas Tests, then Kohli will not be faulted for keeping Ashwin out in favour of Yadav.

While India made the mistake of going in with four pacers and Hanuma Vihari as the lone spin option in the second Test in Perth, Yadav should have straightaway made it to the 11 ahead of even Jadeja. Of course, Jadeja gives the team the extra runs lower in the order but Yadav should straightaway be one of the four bowlers – or five whenever the option arises.

India head coach Ravi Shastri strongly favoured Yadav to be a permanent fixture in the Test 11. On Monday after the Test series ended in Sydney, Shastri, when asked if the Chinaman bowler could be a regular in overseas Test 11s, thundered: "Why abroad? Test cricket. Period. If Kuldeep can deliver like that, if he can improve, there could be a permanent place for him, for all you know."

By regularly playing the limited-overs formats and taking wickets, that confidence will rub into Yadav in the longer format as well. He is one who constantly improves with every outing and it has shown in the way he has transformed from a poor showing in the Lord's Test last year, going back to the drawing room and working on his basics.

It was not his fault in being named in the playing 11 in conditions that invited four pacers. As it turned out, the quicks all the wickets in seaming Lord's conditions and the spinners had no role. Incidentally, Yadav finished with a poor 0/44 in 9 overs.

At the start of the just-concluded Test series in Australia, Yadav was seen making some minor technical adjustments with leg-spin great Shane Warne. That Yadav has made the second highest wicket-taker in Tests proud with his five-wicket haul should only do his confidence a world of good.

Yadav is one who does not experiment too much with his variations. Like he said during the Sydney Test, "For a spinner, its very important to follow the basic thing of spin bowling – give little flight, turn the ball and land in perfect area to deceive the batsmen in air. That's more important for me."

And, the more he plays red ball cricket, he will only get better and more dangerous.

DID YOU KNOW?

Other than the two-Test home series against the West Indies last October, Kuldeep Yadav has not played in any two consecutive Test matches since his debut in Dharamsala in March 2017 against Australia

YADAV IN TESTS

Tests: 6

Wickets: 24

Best: 5/57

5WI: 2

Average: 24.12

Eco: 3.51