It was a symbolic performance from fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who returned with a maiden 10-wicket haul in his 40th Test, to emphasise the fact that India has emerged a formidable force in this department in contemporary cricket.
It was a stunning effort on a pitch which offered little help. And, one which could make even the West Indies — having produced some legendary pace bowlers in the past — envious.
The 30-year-old Umesh, the lone pace bowler in the line-up with debutant Shardul Thakur injured on first day after bowling just 1.4 overs, fashioned India’s convincing, 10-wicket win over the West Indies (with floodlights on in an extended session) in the second Test at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Sunday.
Umesh Yadav celebrates the wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite on day 3 of the second Test against West Indies in Hyderabad on October 14, 2018.
Perfect complement
Left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja proved to be the perfect complement to the tall fast bowler.
With this win, India wrapped up the two-match series 2-0.
In the second essay, but for a 39-run stand for the third wicket between Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, there was nothing much to rave about for the visitors.
It was not just the quality of the top-order that was under question but of the ball too as it was changed twice in the first 12 overs of the innings!
Umesh, meanwhile, meant business. He dismissed the dangerous Roston Chase — for the second time in the match — and Shane Dowrich in quick succession in a similar fashion by forcing them to play in-swingers on to the stumps.
The home team picked up six wickets for just 70 runs between lunch and tea.
After the break, it was the turn of Jadeja to see the back of Jason Holder. The West Indian captain was caught behind off a faint edge as he lunged forward to counter the spin. India’s review — with the umpire declaring him not out — was upheld much to the delight of the 16,000-odd crowd.
Holder, Gabriel shine
Earlier, in the morning session, the West Indian pace duo of Holder and Shannon Gabriel bowled fast and accurately with the second new ball.
Holder, in particular, was spot on with his line, length and movement during his first spell. First, he removed the well-set Ajinkya Rahane, who was surprised by the extra bounce on the off-stump and gave a simple catch to gully. Then in the same over Holder trapped Jadeja for a two-ball duck with a huge in-swinger.
At the other end, Gabriel looked a much better bowler on this day denying southpaw Rishabh Pant a century thanks to a brilliant, diving catch by Hetmyer at cover point.
In all, India batted for 25.4 overs on sunday morning, scoring 59 and losing the last six wickets.
Scoreboard
West Indies — 1st innings: 311.
India — 1st innings: K.L. Rahul b Holder 4 ( 25b ), Prithvi Shaw c Hetmyer b Warrican 70 ( 53b, 11x4, 1x6 ), Cheteshwar Pujara c sub b Gabriel 10 ( 41b, 2x4 ), Virat Kohli lbw b Holder 45 ( 78b, 5x4 ), Ajinkya Rahane c Hope b Holder 80 ( 183b, 7x4 ), Rishabh Pant c Hetmyer b Gabriel 92 ( 134b, 11x4, 2x6 ), Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Holder 0 ( 2b ), R. Ashwin b Gabriel 35 ( 83b, 4x4 ), Kuldeep Yadav b Holder 6 ( 21b, 1x4 ), Umesh Yadav c sub b Warrican 2 ( 13b ), Shardul Thakur (not out) 4 ( 12b ); Extras (b-12, lb-2, nb-5): 19; Total (in 106.4 overs): 367.
Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Rahul, 8.4 overs), 2-98 (Shaw, 18.4), 3-102 (Pujara, 19.6), 4-162 (Kohli, 42.5), 5-314 (Rahane, 83.1), 6-314 (Jadeja, 83.3), 7-322 (Pant, 86.3), 8-334 (Kuldeep, 94.4), 9-339 (Umesh, 99.2).
West Indies bowling: Gabriel 20.4-1-107-3, Holder 23-5-56-5, Warrican 31-7-84-2, Chase 9-1-22-0, Bishoo 21-4-78-0, Brathwaite 2-0-6-0.
West Indies — 2nd innings: Kraigg Brathwaite c Pant b Umesh 0 ( 2b ), Kieran Powell c Rahane b Ashwin 0 ( 9b ), Shai Hope c Rahane b Jadeja 28 ( 42b, 4x4 ), Shimron Hetmyer c Pujara b Kuldeep 17 ( 29b, 3x4 ), Sunil Ambris lbw b Jadeja 38 ( 95b, 4x4 ), Roston Chase b Umesh 6 ( 22b ), Shane Dowrich b Umesh 0 ( 1b ), Jason Holder c Pant b Jadeja 19 ( 30b, 2x4, 1x6 ), Devendra Bishoo (not out) 10 ( 28b, 2x4 ), Jomel Warrican b Ashwin 7 ( 16b, 1x4 ), Shannon Gabriel b Umesh 1 ( 3b ); Extras (lb-1): 1; Total (in 46.1 overs): 127.
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Brathwaite, 0.2), 2-6 (Powell, 3.3), 3-45 (Hetmyer, 12.6), 4-45 (Hope, 13.4), 5-68 (Chase, 24.6), 6-70 (Dowrich, 26.1), 7-108 (Holder, 36.6), 8-109 (Ambris, 38.5), 9-126 (Warrican, 45.2).
India bowling: Umesh 12.1-3-45-4, Ashwin 10-4-24-2, Kuldeep 13-1-45-1, Jadeja 11-5-12-3.
India — 2nd innings: Prithvi Shaw (not out) 33 ( 45b, 4x4 ), K.L. Rahul (not out) 33 ( 53b, 1x4, 1x6 ); Extras (b-6, lb-2, nb-1): 9; Total (for no loss in 16.1 overs): 75.
West Indies bowling: Holder 4-0-17-0, Warrican 4-0-17-0, Bishoo 4.1-0-19-0, Chase 4-0-14-0.
Man-of-the-Match: Umesh Yadav.
Man-of-the-Series: Prithvi Shaw.
India won the match by 10 wickets and the series 2-0.
