[WATCH]- Kuldeep Yadav Dismisses Shai Hope Before Lunch On Day 1 Of India vs West Indies 2025 Test

Kuldeep Yadav continued his impressive return to Test cricket on Day 1 of the series opener between India and West Indies in Ahmedabad on Thursday, October 2. The left-arm wrist-spinner dismissed Shai Hope for 26 runs off 36 balls, as the visitors were reduced to 90 for five. The wicket came in the 24th over of the West Indies innings, just before the lunch break.

Kuldeep bowled a flighted delivery that drifted across Hope, tempting him into a drive. The ball then turned sharply, beating the inside edge and clipping the top of the off-stump. The spinner needed only eight balls to claim his first wicket of the match. You can watch the video here:

Welcome back to Test cricket, @imkuldeep18! 💙

His first Test since October 2024 & Kuldeep cleans up Shai Hope just before Lunch! ☝

🍽 LUNCH | WI 90/5 (23.2)

Catch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/Ju76dqhTdq #INDvWI 1st Test, Day 1 👉 LIVE NOW on Star Sports & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/Qc7e3CIIis

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 2, 2025

Interestingly, Kuldeep Yadav is appearing in just his 14th Test, marking his first red-ball match for India since October 2024, when he faced New Zealand in Bengaluru. The 30-year-old earned this opportunity thanks to his outstanding performances with the ball in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025.

The Uttar Pradesh-born spinner finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, claiming 17 wickets overall, including a four-wicket haul against Pakistan in the final, helping India secure their ninth Asia Cup title.

Kuldeep Yadav Joins Siraj And Bumrah As India Dominate West Indies

Kuldeep Yadav joined Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah in the wickets column, helping India maintain the upper hand against the West Indies in the series opener. Siraj led the attack with three wickets, dismissing openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul (0), Alick Athanaze (12), and Brandon King (13).

Bumrah also struck, removing John Campbell for eight. By Lunch on Day 1, the West Indies were struggling at 90/5 in 23.2 overs, with captain Roston Chase unbeaten on 22 off 35 balls. Notably, the West Indies haven’t won a Test in India since 1994/95 and are still seeking their first victory in the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle.

Meanwhile, the Shubman Gill-led Indian team enters the match with strong momentum following a resilient 2-2 draw in their five-Test series in England earlier this year.

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