Debutant Kuldeep sinks Aussie top order

Move over Ashwin and Jadeja, 22-year-old Test debutant Kuldeep Yadav is the latest spinner to mesmerise Australia after the youngster ripped apart the tourists’ top order after lunch on day one in Dharamsala.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep claimed the scalps of David Warner, Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell with a masterful display of spin bowling that belies his inexperience at the game’s highest level.

Warner was the first to go in the fourth over after lunch, attempting to force the youngster off the back foot through the off-side only to be undone by flight and bounce as he edged to stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane at first slip.

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The bowler was swamped by his teammates in celebration as he struggled to contain the emotions of a maiden Test wicket.

Handscomb fell 10 overs later to a classic wrist-spinner’s dismissal Shane Warne would be proud of.

Tossing the ball above the eyeline of the right-handed Handscomb, Kuldeep suckered the Australian into a booming drive before ripping a leg-break out of the rough and between bat and pad into the exposed woodwork.

If that was impressive, his delivery to remove Maxwell topped it.

Having just had a wrong-un lofted over wide long-on by the dynamic allrounder, the left-arm chinaman fired in another googly that completely squared Maxwell up and clipped the off bail.

Kuldeep’s teammates could not catch him as he sped off towards the fine leg boundary in jubilation.

Watching from afar, legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar praised Kuldeep on Twitter, encouraging the spinner to stay strong.

Kuldeep was presented his maiden Test cap by former India leg-spinner and Star Sports commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan an hour before play began on Saturday.

The Uttar Pradesh product had big shoes to fill, entering India’s Test XI as injured skipper Virat Kohli’s replacement. Kuldeep averages a shade under 29 from 22 first-class Ranji Trophy matches, including a top score of 117. 

Test Squads

India (for fourth Test): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Mohammed Shami.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune – Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru – India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi – match drawn.

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala