As the second Test between India and South Africa unfolds in Guwahati, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has shed light on the key attributes that make spinner Kuldeep Yadav a potent weapon. India, needing a victory to stay competitive in the series, is relying on its bowlers to contain the World Test Champions. Ten Doeschate singled out Yadav’s performance on day one, where he secured three crucial wickets, including those of well-set batsmen. “I thought everyone bowled well. But maybe the fact that he sort of gets overspin and with the red soil and a little bit more pace in the wicket, maybe he was slightly more effective in the conditions today,” he commented. This analysis points to a combination of Yadav’s inherent skill – his overspin – and the specific nature of the Guwahati pitch favoring his style. The coach highlighted that Yadav’s wicket-taking ability is a primary reason for his selection, and his early success provided India with a critical advantage. The ongoing focus for the Indian team is to maintain pressure and prevent South Africa from building large individual scores, a tactic that ten Doeschate believes has been effective thus far.
