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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