<p>In their very first Test of the four-match series against Australia at Adelaide four years ago, India opted for the uncapped Karn Sharma over the experienced R Ashwin. The decision backfired emphatically.</p>.<p>The leg-break bowler managed just four wickets. It hurt India more that it was spin that proved decisive to the match's outcome. Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon, despite a steely century by skipper Virat Kohli in a thrilling chase, turned the game hosts' way with a seven-wicket effort and finished the match with a 12-wicket haul. </p>.<p>Another four-Test series Down Under beckons Virat Kohli's men with the first Test beginning from December 6. In R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India aren't short of experience in the spin department. To their advantage, Kuldeep Yadav, a dangerous customer in the limited overs formats, is striving hard to raise his game in red-ball cricket too. </p>.<p>Incidentally, Kuldeep's maiden Test was against the Australians in Dharamsala. Despite his rousing debut, where his four-wicket haul in the first innings was one of the highlights of India's big victory, the chinaman bowler's Test career hasn't taken off. </p>.<p>After a reality check in England, Kuldeep is a confident man now. Sent back from the Old Blighty after getting just a single game at Lord's, Kuldeep's busy red-ball cricket schedule at home has produced encouraging results. </p>.<p>A five-wicket haul against Australia 'A' was followed by a fifer against the West Indies in the first of the two Tests at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium (SCA) in Rajkot. </p>.<p>"I worked with my coach for four-five days, concentrated a lot on bowling around the wicket as well as over the wicket, on my release, also on the pace since in one-day cricket your pace increases. But when you play Test cricket you have to ‘air’ the ball hoping that the batsman would take his chance. I worked on all that," Kuldeep had said after his maiden Test five-wicket haul. </p>.<p>One striking point of Kuldeep's performance at the SCA was his variations. He foxed the batsmen with his googlies. The drift that he achieved kept the batsmen guessing. </p>.<p>Kuldeep also showed he is a thinking bowler. The West Indies batsmen found him easy to score off in the first innings. In the second essay, Kuldeep showed his craft – he made adjustments in his length and mixed his deliveries to make an immediate impact. </p>.<p>"I leaked runs (in the first innings) because of my flight. I had to control it and then tried to be more accurate. I tried to plug the runs. I made them hard to score freely," he had said. </p>.<p>In the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, two quality players, Kuldeep might be a crucial weapon for India on the Australian pitches that could offer him the kind of bounce that any spinner craves for. </p>.<p>The fact that the England batsmen worked with spin bowling machine to handle Kuldeep's guile is a testimony to the Indian's abilities. The Australians will have to work hard if Kuldeep is in his zone. </p>
<p>In their very first Test of the four-match series against Australia at Adelaide four years ago, India opted for the uncapped Karn Sharma over the experienced R Ashwin. The decision backfired emphatically.</p>.<p>The leg-break bowler managed just four wickets. It hurt India more that it was spin that proved decisive to the match's outcome. Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon, despite a steely century by skipper Virat Kohli in a thrilling chase, turned the game hosts' way with a seven-wicket effort and finished the match with a 12-wicket haul. </p>.<p>Another four-Test series Down Under beckons Virat Kohli's men with the first Test beginning from December 6. In R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India aren't short of experience in the spin department. To their advantage, Kuldeep Yadav, a dangerous customer in the limited overs formats, is striving hard to raise his game in red-ball cricket too. </p>.<p>Incidentally, Kuldeep's maiden Test was against the Australians in Dharamsala. Despite his rousing debut, where his four-wicket haul in the first innings was one of the highlights of India's big victory, the chinaman bowler's Test career hasn't taken off. </p>.<p>After a reality check in England, Kuldeep is a confident man now. Sent back from the Old Blighty after getting just a single game at Lord's, Kuldeep's busy red-ball cricket schedule at home has produced encouraging results. </p>.<p>A five-wicket haul against Australia 'A' was followed by a fifer against the West Indies in the first of the two Tests at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium (SCA) in Rajkot. </p>.<p>"I worked with my coach for four-five days, concentrated a lot on bowling around the wicket as well as over the wicket, on my release, also on the pace since in one-day cricket your pace increases. But when you play Test cricket you have to ‘air’ the ball hoping that the batsman would take his chance. I worked on all that," Kuldeep had said after his maiden Test five-wicket haul. </p>.<p>One striking point of Kuldeep's performance at the SCA was his variations. He foxed the batsmen with his googlies. The drift that he achieved kept the batsmen guessing. </p>.<p>Kuldeep also showed he is a thinking bowler. The West Indies batsmen found him easy to score off in the first innings. In the second essay, Kuldeep showed his craft – he made adjustments in his length and mixed his deliveries to make an immediate impact. </p>.<p>"I leaked runs (in the first innings) because of my flight. I had to control it and then tried to be more accurate. I tried to plug the runs. I made them hard to score freely," he had said. </p>.<p>In the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, two quality players, Kuldeep might be a crucial weapon for India on the Australian pitches that could offer him the kind of bounce that any spinner craves for. </p>.<p>The fact that the England batsmen worked with spin bowling machine to handle Kuldeep's guile is a testimony to the Indian's abilities. The Australians will have to work hard if Kuldeep is in his zone. </p>