A string of disappointing shows and injuries for a good part of 2021 had put Kuldeep Yadav's budding career in deep crisis. However, with hard work and using his variations smartly, Kuldeep found success in the IPL the following year and hasn't looked back since.

Kuldeep’s ability to take wickets at any stage of the game is what made the Indian team management prefer him over fellow left-arm spinner Axar Patel. And Kuldeep, just as he had done in the previous two Tests, delivered at a key moment to produce a spell (15-2-22-4) that has made India the favourites to win this fourth Test at the JSCA International Stadium and seal the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Agreed, senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (5/51) finished with the best figures among the Indian bowlers in England’s second innings which folded for 145, but it was Kuldeep who broke their back.

India's Kuldeep Yadav bowls a delivery during the third day of the fourth Test cricket match between India and England, at JSCA International Cricket Stadium, in Ranchi, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 PTI

Opener Zak Crawley (60) and Jonny Bairstow (30)’s counter-attacking partnership following Joe Root’s departure was turning out to be a worry for India. But Kuldeep utilised fully the extra bit of turn this slow, low pitch offered on Day III as he disturbed the stumps of both Crawley and England captain Ben Stokes.

The well-set Crawley played a poor shot, but Kuldeep did extract sharp turn off the wicket that led him to account for Stokes, who’s known to be a nervous starter. Kuldeep added to his tally by inducing a mistimed hit from Tom Hartley before trapping a clueless Ollie Robinson lbw.

One felt Kuldeep was under-bowled in the first innings. In the second, he got to bowl more and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Gritty with the bat

But before the bowling part, a special mention has to be made of Kuldeep’s batting. Often Kuldeep gets to hear he can’t bat like Jadeja or even Axar, but his 28 off 131 balls on Sunday was as good as a half-century.

What stood out during the 76-run eighth-wicket partnership between Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep was the left-hander’s stubbornness and grit, which enabled his Uttar Pradesh teammate to knock off crucial runs and reduce India’s deficit.

“Both of us come from UP and have played a fair bit of domestic cricket together as well, and that helped. We just focused on watching the ball and play, and being there as longer as possible,” Jurel said.

Kuldeep’s personal coach Kapil Pandey's tips worked for the bowler. “Regarding bowling, we talked about maintaining the right line and attacking the stumps with an eye on reducing his jump at the delivery stride. He did exactly so,” Pandey told The Telegraph.

“Kuldeep wasn’t really in bad form. It’s just that he wasn’t getting his chances, and now he has ensured to fit in as per the team’s requirements,” Pandey stated.