Team India left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be hoping to find a place in the playing XI when the visitors face Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle starting August 15. Despite some impressive performances in the red-ball format over the years, Kuldeep has played less than 20 Tests since his debut in 2017.
Kuldeep bowled 18 overs in the three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo. The 31-year-old conceded 76 runs while picking up the wickets of Ahan Wickramasinghe and Anjala Bandara. The Indian spinner did not bowl in the second innings.
Kuldeep has played 18 Test matches so far and would be eager to add to the list in Sri Lanka. Ahead of the two-match series in the island nation, we compare his stats with those of Muttiah Muralitharan after the Sri Lanka legend had also featured in 18 Test matches.
Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Who has claimed more wickets and has a better average after 18 Tests?
In 18 Test matches, Kuldeep has picked up 79 wickets at an impressive average of 22.35. In six Tests against England, he has claimed 21 wickets at an average of 22.28. In four Tests against the West Indies, he has picked up 22 scalps at an average of 21.95. Also, in two Test matches against Australia, he has claimed nine wickets at an average of 21.11.
After 18 Test matches, Muralitharan had claimed 63 wickets at an average of 31.53. In three Tests against South Africa, he had picked up 16 wickets at an average of 22.25. In five Tests against India, the former off-spinner had claimed 16 wickets at an average of 34.75. Also, in three Tests against New Zealand, he had picked up 14 wickets at an average of 21.21.
Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Who has picked up more five-fers after 18 Tests?
Having played 18 Tests, Kuldeep has registered five five-wicket hauls. His best innings figures of 5-40 came against Bangladesh in Chattogram in December 2022. Kuldeep ended the Test with eight wickets. He also picked up 5-72 against England in Dharamsala in March 2024 and 5-99 against Australia in Sydney in the New Year Test of 2019.
(Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Bowling stats comparison after 18 Tests)
After 18 Tests, Muralitharan had claimed four five-wicket hauls. His best innings figures at that stage were 5-64, which came against New Zealand in Napier in March 1995. Muralitharan had also picked 5-101 against South Africa in Colombo in September 1993 and 5-162 against India in Lucknow in January 1994.
Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Who has a better record in wins after 18 Tests?
In 13 wins, Kuldeep has claimed 63 wickets at an average of 20.14, with four five-wicket hauls. In four losses, he has 11 wickets at an average of 36.18, with a best of 4-115. In one drawn Test, he has claimed five wickets, averaging 19.80.
(Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Bowling stats comparison in wins after 18 Tests)
In three Test wins, Muralitharan had picked up 17 wickets at an average of 23.11, with one five-wicket haul. In five losses, he had 18 wickets at an average of 38.11, with two five-wicket hauls. Also, in 10 drawn Tests, Muralitharan had 28 wickets at an average of 32.42, with one five-fer.
Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Who has a better away record after 18 Tests?
In four away Tests, Kuldeep has picked up 18 wickets at an average of 19.55, with the aid of two five-wicket hauls. In 14 home Tests, he has picked up 61 wickets at an average of 23.18, with three five-wicket hauls.
(Kuldeep vs Muralitharan – Away bowling stats comparison after 18 Tests)
In seven away Tests, Muralitharan had picked up 22 wickets at an average of 33.13, with two five-wicket hauls to his credit. In 11 home Tests, the Sri Lankan legend had picked up 41 wickets at an average of 30.68, with two five-fers.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert