[WATCH]: Kuldeep Yadav's leg spin clean bowled Shai Hope on Day 1 of IND vs WI 1st Test

Kuldeep Yadav is back in the Whites in style. He bamboozled West Indies' Shai Hope and kept team India (WI vs IND 1st Test) in the front seat at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. 

Kuldeep Yadav was with Team India during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England in the away Test series. Under overseas conditions, he did not play any games then. The spinner made his way into the playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025, where they became the champion without losing a match. There, Kuldeep was in great form, proving his importance for the Men in Blue. 

The gap between the Asia Cup 2025 final and the India vs. West Indies 2-match Test series was very thin. So, there are speculations about some of the cricketers, who played the continental tournament matches on a regular basis, about their workload management. Another question was whether the team management would rely on Yadav over Axar Patel. 

Read More: [WATCH]: Sharp inswinger from Mohammed Siraj rattles Brandon King's stumps on Day 1 of IND vs WI 1st Test

Kuldeep Yadav bowled out well-set Shai Hope 

Due to recent form and the conditions of the wicket, India put the chinaman spinner into the playing combination, and he paid off the management's trust without much delay. Yadav announced his return to Test cricket by taking the wicket of Shai Hope. 

Against the right-handed middle-order batter, Kuldeep released a leg spin, one of the rough patches of the wicket. Hope tried to drive the ball but missed every part of the ball. After hitting the deck, the red cherry spins into the batter and dislodges the bails. The West Indies lost their 5th wicket of the first innings of the match, with India leading the race. Hope departed for 26 off 36. He was looking good on the crease but again, was not able to convert the momentum for a long run. Hope's poor run in tests continues.