Kuldeep Yadav made his debut in Test cricket but he wasn't certain to get a place in the playing eleven in Dharamsala even a few hours before the start of the match. Virat Kohli was injured and Ajinkya Rahane was the stand-in captain in the match. Sources say it was Anil Kumble who insisted that Kuldeep should get an opportunity. India's greatest spinner was replaced by Ravi Shastri as the coach of the team but that one decision has changed the balance of Indian team since then.


If the presence of Virat Kohli is something which the other teams can't match at the moment, it is certainly the presence of Kuldeep Yadav that no teams could match at the moment in international cricket. It was Kuldeep who helped India to win the ODI series in South Africa and wherever he played in the last few months always have made a difference.


The Indian fans should thank IPL from where the Chinaman bowler was discovered and later was drafted into Team India. T20 has always been the favourite format for Kuldeep but now he has proved that he is an automatic choice for the Indian team in the 50 overs format as well.


There are bowlers like Yasir Shah,  Adil Rashid,  Imran Tahir who are doing considerably well in international cricket now but Kuldeep Yadav has brought in something extra which has made him different from all others.


What is that X-factor?


It is definitely his length. Unlike most Chinaman bowlers, he hardly bowls in a length where the batsmen can pick him for easy runs. When the ball gets released from his hand, there is an extra rotation which makes it difficult for the batsmen to pick him and even at the last moment, most of the batsmen stay clueless on whether the ball will come in or spin away from the bat.


It was that one failure in the Test series at the Lord’s during the England Tests that created some doubt whether he is equally capable with the red ball or not. However, Kuldeep worked hard with the red ball since he was sent back from England in the middle of the series.


He spent time with his childhood coach and the efforts are showing in his recent performance against West Indies. Even in the presence of Ashwin and Jadeja, India's Chinaman bowler has stood out as the best performer so far in the bowling department.


Skipper Kohli is also showing more and more faith in the left arm spinner. Perhaps he also knows if India has to do something special in next year's World Cup in England, Kuldeep will be the bowler to bank upon.