Kuldeep Yadav smashes Ashwin and Kumble’s massive record

In a dream comeback, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav scripted the best Test bowling figures by an Indian spinner in Bangladesh. 

Kuldeep achieved the feat on Day three of the first Test against the hosts in Chattogram. He returned with figures of five for 40 to help India bowl Bangladesh out for a paltry 150 and earn a massive 254-run lead.

In the process, Kuldeep went past the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and great Anil Kumble to register the best figures by an India spinner in Bangladesh. 

Previously, the record stood with Ashwin, who had taken five for 87 in Fatullah in 2015. Kumble’s best figures of 4/55 in Bangladesh came at this venue back in 2004.

Playing in his first Test match in 22 months, Kuldeep claimed his third five-wicket haul in red-ball cricket. He last featured in a Test for India back in February 2021. 

He had earlier taken five wickets in an innings in Australia and against West Indies in India. This was also Kuldeep’s career-best figures.

Before Kuldeep, only two Indian spinners had five-wicket hauls in Test cricket against Bangadesh. They are Ashwin and Sunil Joshi.

The overall best figures by an Indian in Bangladesh belong to Zaheer Khan. The pacer had claimed 7/87 in Mirpur in 2007.