Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav etched his name in cricketing history during the third day of the first Test between India and West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Sunday, October 12. The left-arm wrist-spinner produced a magical spell, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/82) that helped India tighten its grip on the Test match.
With this achievement, Kuldeep became the first bowler in 68 years — and only the second left-arm wrist-spinner ever — to take five five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. The only other bowler to achieve this rare feat before him was England’s Johnny Wardle, who did so between 1954 and 1957.
🏏 Kuldeep Yadav’s Historic Feat
Playing just his 15th Test match since debuting in 2017, Kuldeep Yadav’s performance once again highlighted his immense potential in the longest format. His latest five-wicket haul came at a crucial stage of the match, dismantling the West Indies batting lineup with his deceptive spin and flight.
Kuldeep’s victims in the innings included Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, and Justin Greaves, among others. His ability to extract turn and bounce on a relatively flat Delhi surface was a reminder of why he remains one of India’s most skillful spinners.
Despite being in and out of the team due to India’s spin-heavy lineup featuring Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep has made the most of every opportunity.
📊 Most Five-Wicket Hauls by Left-Arm Wrist Spinners in Test Cricket
| Player | Years (First to Last Five-Wicket Haul) | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav (India) | 2018–2025 | 5 |
| Johnny Wardle (England) | 1954–1957 | 5 |
| Paul Adams (South Africa) | 1996–2003 | 4 |
This table clearly shows how rare this achievement is — and how dominant Kuldeep has been in modern-day cricket. He has achieved the milestone in just 15 matches, while Johnny Wardle needed 28 Tests to reach the same number.
⚙️ Record-Breaking Numbers
Kuldeep’s latest five-for not only gave him a spot in the record books but also underlined his remarkable efficiency and consistency as a bowler.
- Matches: 15
- Wickets: 65
- Bowling Average: 21.90
- Strike Rate: 37 (Best by any spinner with more than 50 wickets in Test history)
To put things into perspective, the legendary Johnny Briggs of England — who played from 1884 to 1899 — held the previous record for best strike rate among spinners with over 50 wickets at 45. Kuldeep has shattered that long-standing record by a significant margin.
This means Kuldeep takes a wicket roughly every 37 deliveries, which is extraordinary in Test cricket, especially for a spinner.
🧠 The Art of Left-Arm Wrist Spin
Left-arm wrist spin, also known as “chinaman” bowling, is one of the rarest arts in cricket. It requires immense skill, control, and the ability to deceive batters with variations in flight, speed, and turn.
Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the few modern exponents of this craft. His unique bowling action, coupled with his ability to turn the ball both ways, often leaves batters guessing. What makes his recent performance even more special is that he achieved it against a resilient West Indies lineup known for handling spin well.
🌟 Consistency Despite Limited Opportunities
Despite his brilliant statistics, Kuldeep hasn’t been a regular in India’s Test lineup. Competing with the world-class duo of Ashwin and Jadeja for a spot in the playing XI is never easy. Yet, whenever given a chance, he has delivered impactful performances.
His last Test appearance before this series was also impressive — in Ahmedabad, where he picked up crucial wickets. His form and rhythm have made experts and fans alike question why India hasn’t given him more consistent runs in red-ball cricket.
😅 Mixed Second Innings
While the first innings was a dream performance for Kuldeep, the second innings was less fruitful. He bowled 11 overs for 53 runs without picking up a wicket. However, given his record in the first innings and the workload he carried, it’s understandable that he didn’t strike again.
India, however, still maintains control of the match, thanks to the strong performance from the bowling unit and Kuldeep’s heroics earlier in the day.
🔥 What Makes This Record Special
- 68-year wait broken: No left-arm wrist-spinner had achieved five five-wicket hauls since 1957.
- Quickest to milestone: Kuldeep did it in 15 Tests, compared to Wardle’s 28.
- Best strike rate in history: 37 balls per wicket — the best ever among spinners with 50+ wickets.
- Rare bowling type: Left-arm wrist-spin is one of the rarest forms of spin bowling, making this achievement even more remarkable.
🗣️ Expert Reactions
Cricket experts and former players have showered praise on Kuldeep Yadav. Many highlighted how his perseverance and technical evolution have made him a stronger, more confident bowler.
Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh tweeted:
“Kuldeep Yadav continues to prove why he is India’s most underrated match-winner in Tests. 5-fors don’t lie!”
Fans on social media too celebrated the milestone, calling him “India’s spin magician” and demanding that he be given a longer run in the Test side.
🏆 Final Thoughts
Kuldeep Yadav’s incredible achievement marks one of the finest moments for Indian spin bowling in the 21st century. Breaking a 68-year-old record and setting a new global benchmark for strike rate, he has proved once again that patience and talent can overcome any challenge.