discussion on espncricinfo | Salsanis Analytics

Former India stumper and ex-selector Saba Karim reckons that Kuldeep Yadav’s combination with Rishabh Pant as spinner-keeper works very well for the hosts. He also lauded the left-arm wrist spinner for developing the guile to preempt the batter’s movements at the crease. South Africa won the toss and batted first on Day 1 of the second Test against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday, November 22. The visitors were 156-2 at the end of the second session. However, Kuldeep Yadav led India’s fightback, registering figures of 3-48 from 17 overs. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Karim praised Kuldeep’s skills and was also impressed with how skipper Pant used him. The former India cricketer said: “He [Kuldeep] is also very adept at understanding what the batter is trying to do. That combination with Rishabh Pant works very well for him. These subtle nuances of how to pick wickets, how to understand the batter’s movements, batter’s mindset, all that has helped him to grow in confidence. We see that reflect in his performance.” Kuldeep and Pant were teammates at Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The latter represented DC from 2016 to 2024, while Kuldeep joined the franchise in 2022 and has been retained for the upcoming season as well. “India’s most improved spinner” Saba Karim on Kuldeep Yadav after Day 1 of 2nd IND vs SA 2025 Test During the same discussion, Karim also described Kuldeep as the most improved Indian spinner in recent times. He praised the wrist spinner for very extremely hard on his variations, thus making it very difficult for batters to pick him. The 58-year-old went on to explain: “He really had to work hard for his wickets. Even in the first session, we saw that. Kuldeep Yadav is India’s most improved spinner over the last season and a half. He has really worked very hard on his bowling. His variations have become far more deceptive. He is using different angles, there is speed in the way he releases the ball. That is why it is not easy for batters to pick him from the hand.” Kuldeep dismissed Ryan Rickelton (35), Tristan Stubbs (49) and Wiaan Mulder (13) to bring India back in the contest in Guwahati. At stumps on Day 1 of the Test match, Senuran Muthusamy was batting on 25 and Kyle Verreynne on one.
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Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has expressed that the Eden Gardens pitch perfectly suits Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling style, which contributed to his lethal performance on Day 2 of the Test match against South Africa.

According to Bangar, all Jadeja needed to do was consistently land the ball at a particular length, and the pitch took care of the rest. Spinners dominated Day 2 of the first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, November 15.

Resuming their first innings at 37-1, Team India were eventually bowled out for 189 runs. At stumps, South Africa were struggling at 93-7 in their second innings. Off-spinner Simon Harmer claimed impressive figures of 4-30 for the Proteas, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up 4-29 from his 13 overs.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Bangar praised Jadeja for yet another impressive display with the ball. He also noted that the surface at Eden Gardens made the spinner’s job much easier.

“He’s got his stock ball sorted and he doesn’t really have too many variations. You rarely see him bowl the arm ball. It’s just ball in, ball out, over after over. Bowl the same way on a particular length. That has been classic Jadeja for a number of years,” Bangar said.

“When pitches offer so much turn and variable bounce, then it is quite an easy thing for Jadeja to pick up those wickets. The best thing a spinner can do is master his stock ball. You do not need any other delivery to pick up a lot of wickets,” he added.

While Jadeja went wicketless in India’s first innings, he was instrumental in South Africa’s second innings by dismissing key batsmen Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, and Tristan Stubbs.

### Ravindra Jadeja Joins Legends in Elite List

On Day 2 of the Kolkata Test, Jadeja also etched his name in cricketing history by becoming only the fourth all-rounder to complete the double of 4,000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. Before him, only Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori have achieved this remarkable feat.

The left-handed batter reached this milestone by scoring his 10th run in India’s first innings. Looking at the Saurashtra cricketer’s Test career stats after Day 2, the 36-year-old has amassed 4,017 runs at an average of 38.62 and claimed 342 wickets at an impressive average of 25.04.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-quite-easy-ravindra-jadeja-sanjay-bangar-big-statement-spinner-4-fer-day-2-1st-ind-vs-sa-2025-test

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Tag Archives: discussion on espncricinfo

“Combination with Rishabh Pant works very well” – Saba Karim’s big statement on star bowler after Day 1 of 2nd IND vs SA 2025 Test

“Quite easy for Jadeja” – Former India coach’s big statement on spinner’s 4-fer on Day 2 of 1st IND vs SA 2025 Test